Theekshana, Hasaranga spin Sri Lanka to victory to go high
Sri Lanka 245 all out (Nissanka, Asalanka 63, Greaves 4-32) beat Scotland 163 all out (Greaves 56*, Theekshana 3-41, Hasaranga 2-42) by 82 runs
Sri Lanka could have had some trigger to fret after they had been bowled out for 245 within the fiftieth over.
But nearly as good as their batting has been on this event – till this sport, at the least – their bowling has been the most effective on present. Wanindu Hasaranga did not get a five-wicket haul this time, however between them, he and Maheesh Theekshana buried the Scotland batting order – Theekshana claiming 3 for 41, Hasaranga 2 for 42.
With the seamers pitching in, and a few run outs to complete, Sri Lanka strode to a 82-run victory.
None of their matches on this group stage have been shut. Though there stays some embarrassment about having to play a Qualifying event in any respect, as a former ODI World Cup champion, Sri Lanka will take some satisfaction from being the facet best-placed forward of the Super Six. They will take 4 very important factors into that stage, along with the event’s finest Net Run Rate (NRR) of three.047.
Scotland have additionally certified for the following stage, having gained three matches and misplaced solely this one, whereas sustaining a NRR of 0.540. The Super Six matches towards Zimbabwe and West Indies are more likely to resolve their destiny.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers have been imperious on this event, and this match was no exception, as they diminished the opposition to six for 74 on a sluggish Bulawayo observe, inside the primary 16 overs. This basically threw Scotland out of the sport. Chris Greaves struck an unbeaten 56 from No. 7, however the goal all the time appeared past Scotland, with Sri Lanka’s bowlers having dominated proper by their innings.
Seamer Lahiru Kumara had made the primary breakthrough, uprooting Matthew Cross’ center stump with a jagging, size supply. Then the spinners piled on. Theekshana took out Brandon McMullen’s center stump, earlier than having Richie Berrington caught athletically at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva quickly after. Later, Hasaranga would have opener Christopher McBride caught at brief cowl, earlier than having Mark Watt lbw.
When Theekshana had Jack Jarvis lbw to go away Scotland 100 for 8, it was throughout. Greaves would want a miracle to take Scotland in direction of victory; he merely produced an excellent innings, and noticed his final two companions run out. Scotland had been all out within the twenty ninth over.
On a floor that was powerful to attain on, Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka had propelled Sri Lanka to their aggressive whole, the previous amassing 75 off 85 deliveries, the latter making a busy 63 off 65 as wickets fell round him. The two shared solely a 44-run stand, however collectively had been answerable for giving the Sri Lanka batting effort its spine.
Nissanka was regular by the primary half of the innings, and Asalanka guided Sri Lanka by the center overs.
The left-arm finger spin of Mark Watt was answerable for dismissing them each – Nissanka slapping a brief ball to brief midwicket, Asalanka edging one to the keeper as he tried a late minimize. Watt would get a 3rd, when he snared Rajitha in entrance of the stumps. He’d end with Scotland’s finest evaluation: 3 for 52.
The final of his wickets got here in Scotland’s finest interval of the sport, after they claimed 5 wickets inside 34 deliveries. It meant that Sri Lanka would rating about 40 runs fewer than what they gave the impression to be headed for within the thirty seventh over. But such was the standard of Sri Lanka’s bowling, it mattered little.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf