Sri Lanka finished the competition with a strong performance, defeating the Netherlands by 83 runs in the Group D match of the T20 World Cup at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium.
The Dutch squad, which had hoped to make it to the Super Eights, suffered a double blow when Bangladesh defeated Nepal, securing their passage while also dashing the Netherlands’ chances.
On Sunday, Sri Lanka won by 83 runs over the Netherlands at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, capping off their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. It meant they finished with three points and third place in Group D, trailing only South Africa and Bangladesh, who had already confirmed their place in the Super Eight by defeating Nepal in Kingstown. Sri Lanka’s victory was developed by its batters and executed clinically by its bowlers. Nuwan Thushara was the highlight of the bunch, taking 3 for 24, while Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, and Matheesha Pathirana all contributed as the Netherlands were bowled out for 118 in their chase of 202.The Netherlands’ aspirations of reaching the Super Eights were crushed after they were soundly thrashed by a determined Sri Lanka team aiming to finish the season on a high note. The Dutch had a good chance of progressing until Bangladesh won the second Group D match, sealing the Tigers’ spot.
The Netherlands got off to a flying start in their pursuit of 202, with openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd making the most of the Powerplay. O’Dowd was dismissed in the fifth over, and Levitt was caught on the second-last ball of the sixth. 47/2 was a good Powerplay return, giving the Netherlands more than a chance.
When Vikramjit Singh was removed in the seventh over, control shifted. Sybrand Engelbrecht took the next over, and Hasaranga claimed two wickets around the midway point of the innings, putting the Dutch significantly behind parity.
Pringle was stumped by the skipper in the twelfth over, capping a five-over spell that claimed five wickets. There were eight overs left and the Netherlands were 83/7. With 31 runs off 24 balls, captain Scott Edwards tried his hardest to keep the Dutch in the game. Any little opportunity the Europeans had was all but destroyed by his exile in the 17th century.After two balls, Sri Lanka claimed the last wicket to end the match, leaving the Netherlands all out for 118.
From Group D, South Africa and Bangladesh moved on to the second round of the World Cup.
Vivian Kingma delivered Sri Lanka an early blow by dismissing Pathum Nissanka for a duck in the opening over of the match, after choosing to bowl first.
Though Paul van Meekeren claimed a crucial wicket in the sixth over to halt Kamindu Mendis’ innings, Sri Lanka advanced steadily during the Powerplay, reaching forty in the first five overs. By the six-over juncture, the Lions were 45/2.
Until two fours in three balls at the end of the ninth over gave them momentum, Sri Lanka struggled to score runs with extra fielders on the rope. They were put under pressure by Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, who took them to 74/2 at the midpoint of the innings and laid a strong platform.
Resuming his attack, Aryan Dutt dismissed Mendis, a batsman with a strong set, for 46 runs. With two boundaries and one maximum, Dhananjaya hit Paul van Meekeren, changing gears and amassing 16 runs.
And in the game’s fourteenth over, Charith Asalanka hit one six and a boundary. Having hit two maximums and one four, Angelo Mathews amassed 19 runs off of Tim Pringle. Prior to being dismissed for 46 by Logan van Beek, Asalanka hit two consecutive sixes.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Angelo Mathews combined for 35 runs without a loss in 14 balls, bringing their team’s total to 201/6 in 20 overs.
Netherlands 85 vs. Sri Lanka 201/6 is the quick score.
