Sri Lanka escaped with a slim 21-run win over Netherlands of their first Super Six spherical match of the ICC World Cup Qualifier 2023 on Friday, June 30. The former World Cup winners saved their unbeaten run in qualifiers alive to remain at the top of the Super Six desk and now want just one win to affirm their place within the ICC ODI World Cup in India.
However, the Dasun Shanaka-led aspect had to sweat it out to get two factors towards the Dutch aspect. While batting first, Sri Lanka misplaced younger opener Pathum Nissanka on the innings’ first supply with Logan van Beek taking his first wicket of the day. Sri Lanka’s top-order struggled to kind any significant partnerships as they misplaced the primary 4 wickets in simply seven overs.
In-form Dimuth Karunaratne scored essential 33 runs and stabilized Sri Lanka’s collapse however misplaced his wicket within the 18th over and his group was down at 5/67. But spin all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, batting at no.6, performed his career-best ODI innings to drag Sri Lanka to a difficult whole.
Dhananjaya top-scored with 93 off 111 with the assistance of eight fours and two sixes earlier than getting out on Aryan Dutt’s supply within the forty seventh over. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana additionally performed essential small knocks as Sri Lanka scored 213 runs in 47.4 overs. Logan van Beek and Bad de Leede picked three wickets every whereas Saqib Zulfiqar took two for Netherlands.
While chasing a simple goal, Netherlands’ misplaced each their openers Vikramjit Singh and Max O’Dowd on geese. But veteran batter Wesley Barresi and all-rounder Bas de Leede saved Netherlands alive within the chase by including 77 runs for the third wicket. Both batters appeared snug enjoying towards Hasaranga and Theekshana with Barresi including his first fifty within the qualifiers.
Shanaka dismissed Barresi on a fast throw within the fifteenth over and that proved an important second within the sport for Sri Lanka’s return. Hasaranga bowled out Teja Nidamanuru within the subsequent over and Theekshana dismissed de Leede to put Sri Lanka within the driving seat for the primary time within the sport.Â
Zimbabwe made a comeback via wicketkeeper batter Scott Edwards who nearly pulled off a memorable win for the Dutch aspect. He smashed a exceptional fifty and remained unbeaten at 67 off 68 to drag the sport to the wire. But Shanaka ended Netherlands’ resistance within the fortieth over as he dismissed out Dutt to bowl out opponents on 192 runs.
