Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan both hit centuries as Pakistan closed in on victory over Sri Lanka on Tuesday in a record World Cup run chase.
Shafique, playing in only his fifth ODI, marked his World Cup debut with 113, laced with 10 fours and three sixes.
Shafique, who replaced the out-of-form Fakhar Zaman, is one of the sport’s hottest prospects after he made 201 in a Test match against Sri Lanka in July.
Rizwan scored his third ODI century off 97 balls with seven fours and two sixes and was still at the crease as Pakistan chased a winning target of 345.
Ireland hold the record for the biggest successful World Cup run chase of 328 set against England at the 2011 tournament.
Earlier, swashbuckling Kusal Mendis smashed the fastest century for Sri Lanka, guiding his team to an imposing 344-9 against Pakistan.
The 28-year-old cracked a 65-ball century before going on to make 122, his highest score in ODIs and third century.
It was an innings spiced with 14 boundaries and half a dozen sixes, leading the charge for Sri Lanka who won the toss and batted.
Sadeera Samarawickrama also joined the party with a brilliant maiden hundred, hitting 11 boundaries and two sixes in his 89-ball 108.
