Sri Lanka end ODI WC qualifier with spotless file after bowlers script massive win within the closing
Sri Lanka 233 (Arachchige 57, Mendis 43, Asalanka 36, Vikramjit 2-12) beat Netherlands 105 (O’Dowd 33, Theekshana 4-31, Madushanka 3-18, Hasaranga 2-35) by 128 runs
It was a match that did not matter, and but Sri Lanka drove their level house anyway. Stung, maybe, by needing to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup, they saved their foot on the throttle regardless of having certified, dismantling Netherlands by a 128-run margin within the qualifier closing.
Despite a late batting collapse the place they misplaced their final seven wickets for 53 runs, Sri Lanka have been all the time on high as their bowlers blew Netherlands away earlier than the chase had even begun.
Dilshan Madushanka did the majority of the harm upfront as he picked up three wickets contained in the ninth over, and Wanindu Hasaranga was on the job too, with two in opposition to his identify by the twelfth over. Maheesh Theekshana then took over, choosing up 4 wickets to skittle Netherlands for 105. That meant Sri Lanka had received the qualifying occasion with out dropping a single match. Both finalists, after all, had already certified for the ODI World Cup, to be held in India later this yr.
Fresh from the excessive of a scintillating chase in opposition to Scotland, Netherlands opted to subject first once more. Vikramjit Singh struck both aspect of the primary powerplay to take away each openers after a sedate begin, however Kusal Mendis and Sahan Arachchige consolidated over the following 13 overs. The scoring price went up and so did Sri Lanka’s dominance within the recreation with little on provide from the pitch for the bowlers. The batters used the sweep liberally in opposition to the spin bowlers, particularly leggie Saqib Zulfiqar, however when Mendis missed a straight one, Netherlands had their breakthrough.
Arachchige introduced up a half-century, whereas Charith Asalanka‘s run-a-ball 36 started to set Sri Lanka up for the end, however a staggering collapse helped Netherlands storm again into the competition.
A pointy catch by Logan van Beek at level introduced an finish to Arachchige’s innings earlier than Asalanka was run-out two deliveries later. Netherlands broke by means of Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva to burrow into Sri Lanka’s tail, and solely a cameo from Hasaranga helped them cross 200. But one other flurry of fast wickets on the loss of life introduced an finish to that stand, and Netherlands had 234 to chase.
The first few overs have been nearly as good because it bought for them within the chase, as they racked up 25 in 4.3 overs. But when Vikramjit carved a straight one to cover-point, the floodgates opened. Madushanka cleaned up Wesley Barresi, earlier than Hasaranga trapped Teja Nidamanuru in entrance. Netherlands have been shaken as captain Scott Edwards fell to a careless run-out, and so they have been all of the sudden down at 49 for six.
Max O’Dowd hung round gamely to make sure the full edged in direction of three figures, however Sri Lanka had already dispatched with the opposition. Theekshana returned to beat O’Dowd’s exterior edge and knock again his off stump after a gritty 36-run partnership with van Beek. It was the primary of 4 as Theekshana took up the function of mopper-up, trapping every of the final three in entrance because the World Cup-bound Netherlands folded for 105.
These two sides will meet once more in a extra necessary contest in India, when Edwards will hope his aspect may give a fairer account of themselves.