Bhathiya Barukanda
Sri Lanka ended their world cup campaign today on a winning note handing the Netherlands a 83-run defeat on a 201 scoreline, their best performance in the tournament on Player of the match cameo 46 by Charith Asalanka and 46 by Kusal Mendis too, but far too late for the liking in an apparent coming good by the batsmen with the pressure off in a game of going through the motions being their last one from Group D at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St. Lucia.
having already exited the 2024 extravaganza. The Netherlands did take on the challenge racing to 45 off 4.3 powerplay gall with Michael Levitt hammering Matheesh Theekshana for a boundary and six off his first over before left-arm pacer Nuwan Thushara restored things for the Lankans sending back Max O’Dowd caught behind by Kusal Mendis for 11. Theekshana, however, had his revenge when five balls later he got rid of Levitt inducing him to edge one to Mendis as the Netherlands chase was halted losing a third wicket for 62 Vikramjit Singh edging Sahanaka for Kusal Mendis’ third caught behind. The fight was good as over for Netherlands when they lost a fourth and fifth in quick succession slumping to 5 for 71 after 8.3 Matheesha Pathirana accounting for Sybrand Engelbrecht for 11 held by Asalanka and Bas de Leeds popping holing out for Asalanka’s second catch off Wanindu Hasaranga into the halfway mark 9.4 to be exact in precipitating to 118 to Sri Lanka winning with 20 balls to spare.
TIED WITH AUSTRALIA FOR HIGHEST TOTAL
Having tied with Australia for the highest total thus far in the tournament on a Player of the Match 46 off off 21 balls by Charith Asalanka inclusive of 5 over the top and a boundary, and a similar score by opener Kusal Mendis off 29 with 5 boundaries, Sri Lanka overcame the second ball dismissal of Pathum Nissanka without scoring with Kamindu Mendis 17 off 20 with a six and boundary posting 39 for the second wicket off 5.2 overs. Dhananjaya de Silva 34 off 26 with 3 boundaries and a six added 44 for the third-wicket with Kusal Mendis off 35 and went on to pair with Asalanka taking Sri Lanka to 123 when Silva fell to the fourth delivery of the fifteenth over. Asalanka and Angelo Mathews 30 not out off 15 with 2 sixes and boundary went on to furher consolidate adding 43 for the fifth-wicket when the latter exited as Sri Lanka reached 166 for 5 after 17.3.
DASUN SHANA RECORD 11 DUCKS
Dasun Shanaka’s first ball duck in a dismal world cup run ended by the former captain’s disastrous form culminating with the record of the greatest number of ducks of 11 by a Lankan batsman in T20s after Tillekeratne Dilshan’s 10 in a worst scenario dirt rubbing in Sri Lanka’s world cup debacle as to the selectors long going choice overlooking performing youngsters. Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga provided the final flourish 20 off 6 smashing 2 over and 1 to the ropes in the 35-run unfinished seventh-wicket bonding.
CHIEF SCORES:
Sri Lanka 201 RR: 10.05
(Kusal Mendis 46, Charith Asalanka 46, Dhananjaya de Silva 34, Angelo Mathews n.o. 30, Wanindu Hasaranga n.o. 20, Kamindu Mendis 17, Logan van Beek 2/45, Aryan Dutt 1/23, Vivian Kingma 1/23, Paul van Meekeren 1/37, Tim Pringle 1/41)
Netherlands 118 (16.4 Overs) RR: 7.08
(Michael Levitt 31, Scott Edwards 31, Max O’Dowd 11, Aryan Dutt 10, Nuwan Thushara 3/24, Matheesha Pathirana 2/12, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/25, Dasun Shanaka 1/10, Maheesh Theekshana 1/25)
Sources by : Sri Lanka Cricket
