Sri Lanka survive Edwards scare to defend 213
Sri Lanka 213 (Dhananjaya 93, van Beek 3-26, de Leede 3-42) beat Netherlands 192 (Edwards 67, Barresi 52, Theekshana 3-31) by 21 runs
Sri Lanka survived an almighty scare as they scraped previous Netherlands by 21 runs to kickstart their Super Six marketing campaign on a nervy however profitable observe. It was a victory constructed on the again of a career-best 93 from Dhananjaya de Silva and a backs-against-the-wall bowling effort led by the superb Maheesh Theekshana, who picked 3 for 31.
But each inch of this win was contested by a persistent Netherlands outfit, who first restricted Sri Lanka to a subpar 213 after which practically pulled off a nail-biting chase. Better sides than them have fallen foul of the dual threats of Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, who picked up 5 wickets between them on the day. Two run-outs, when the required charge all through was basically lower than 4 an over, solely provides credence to this notion. Netherlands captain Scott Edwards was left stranded on an unbeaten 68-ball 67, as he ran out of companions on a sticky floor that was taking flip and displaying some uneven bounce.
The end result means Sri Lanka be a part of Zimbabwe on six factors on the prime of the desk, with the winner of their conflict on Sunday assured qualification to the World Cup. As for the Netherlands, they will nonetheless rise up to a most of six factors however will now want one among Sri Lanka or Zimbabwe to lose each their remaining video games.
Theekshana additionally made an affect with the bat, sticking it out within the center with Dhananjaya throughout a significant 77-run eighth wicket stand. With the sport received by 21, the significance of Theekshana’s gritty 28 can’t be overstated, particularly seeing that it got here after Sri Lanka had been lowered to 131 for 7.
Netherlands did all of the operating for a lot of the sport. Starting with the very first supply of the sport, when Pathum Nissanka slashed wildly at one outdoors off stump to be caught at cowl.
That can be one among three wickets for the superb Logan van Beek, who would additionally ship Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka packing – all earlier than the tip of the primary powerplay.
Nissanka’s would not be the one questionable stroke by a Sri Lankan batter, as a number of had been dismissed making an attempt to hit out. This although was right down to Netherlands persisting with nagging strains and lengths, allied with Sri Lanka’s incapability to search out singles and rotate strike persistently. The construct up of stress had batters falling whereas trying to interrupt the shackles. And, if not, the odd one which stored low would do the trick.
This was basically the story of Sri Lanka’s innings, as Netherlands bowled wicket to wicket and refused to permit for simple runs. It was solely Dhananjaya who confirmed the persistence to thrive on this floor.
He stitched collectively successive stands of 33, 29, 35 and 77 with Dimuth Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga and Theekshana respectively, to tug Sri Lanka to a defendable whole.
In defence of their goal, Sri Lanka knocked over each openers for geese inside the primary two overs. But then the sport started to slide away. Wesley Barresi and Bas de Leede – who had grabbed three wickets earlier – placed on 77 for the third wicket, in a partnership that was highlighted by its industrious nature. The pair discovered boundaries often, however greater than that they scrambled for each run.
By the beginning of the fifteenth over they had been going at a charge past six an over. But it might be their exuberance to seize each benefit that may be their downfall, as an ill-advised second would see Barresi run out. Barresi’s wicket can be adopted by Teja Nidamanuru 5 balls later. De Leede and Edwards then placed on a 41-ball 36.
Theekshana returned to undergo a niche between de Leede’s bat and pad to scrub him up. He then executed a double-wicket maiden to ship Netherlands tumbling to 133 for 7.
From that time on it was a lone hand from Edwards, who employed the sweep to nice impact and located ones and twos with ease. This would carry the goal nearer, however Sri Lanka had been into the tail and they also chipped away. After an unbelievable throw to the non-striker’s finish by keeper Kusal Mendis noticed Shariz Ahmad run out, Hasaranga castled Klein with a googly.
Edwards then appeared to farm the strike alongside Dutt, however an inswinging yorker from Shanaka dispatched the latter. That Shanaka was even bowling at that stage was solely right down to the truth that Lahiru Kumara had been in a position to full simply two overs earlier than being withdrawn with a facet pressure.