Posted by Game 12 and the last of round 1 fixtures, Netherland were up against Sri Lanka. An early collapse from Netherland saw them crumble down for a low total of 44 in just 10 overs. Sri Lanka in 7.1 overs chased down the target of 44 and script a 8 wicket win.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opt to bowl first. SRI LANKA’S XI : Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (wk), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (C), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara.
NETHERLAND’S XI : Max ODowd, Stephan Myburgh, Ben Cooper, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Scott Edwards (wk), Ryan ten Doeschate, Pieter Seelaar (C), Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren, Brandon Glover.
Netherland lost a wicket upfront as Max on 2(3) was ran out, a direct hit and casual running. Myburgh was off the mark with a boundary, Ben Cooper in the next over got a couple through to the boundary before Maheesh Theekshana in an over dismissed both Ben and Myburgh on 9(8) and 5(5) respectively. Ackermann smashed a maximum and got a boundary in the next over but next ball was dismissed on 11(9) by Hasaranga, a wicket more in the same over for Hasaranga as de Leede on 0(3) made his way back. Scott Edwards got one through to the boundary, der Merwe was handed a 3 ball duck by Chameera and Netherland finsihed powerplay with 37-6 on board. Hasaranga had his 3rd as Seelaar on 2(5) was caught plumb lbw. Lahiru bowling his 3rd over picked up 3 in an over as Scott Edwards on 8(13), Brandon Glover on 0(3) and van Meekeren on 0(2) walked back. Netherland were bowled out for a low 44 in just 10 overs.
An extraordinary bowling effort by Sri Lanka, Chamika Karunaratne bowled an over and was the only wicketless Sri Lankan bowler. Maheesh Theekshana in his 1 bagged 2 wickets with economy of 3. Dushmantha Chameera in his 2, picked up a wicket and was economical. Wanindu Hasaranga and Lahiru Kumara bowled 3 each, had 3 wickets each to their name and recorded economies of 3 and 2.3 respectively.
Sri Lanka chasing a low score of 44 lost an early wicket in Nissanka, a five ball duck. Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka didn’t stop the flow of boundaries and runs, a fine 24 run partnership saw curtains as Asalanka on 6(8) made his way back but Kusal Perera got a couple more to the boundary to close the powerplay overs, Sri Lanka end powerplay on 39-2. The winning runs came off Avishka Fernando’s bat as Sri Lanka script a 8 wicket win, Kusal Perera remained unbeaten on 33(24) and powered Sri Lanka to a win early.
44 was a no target to defend, Brandon Glover in his 3 bowled with economy of 4 and bagged a wicket. Paul van Meekeran in his 2 was very expensive but had a wicket to his name. Fred Klaassen bowled a couple and a ball more, was economical in his spell.
Netherland have been very disappointing throughout the World Cup with bat in hand, just have had one good scoring match and have failed to register a win to their name in 3 outings. Confident Sri Lanka make it 3 wins in a row and march their way to the super 12 encounters with great spirits.
Bureau of sports 