Sri Lanka ended their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign on a positive note, thrashing the Netherlands by a massive 83 runs at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Saint Lucia on Monday, June 17th (Sunday, June 16th local time).
This win helped Sri Lanka leapfrog Netherlands in the Group D standings, securing the third position behind South Africa and Bangladesh, who qualified for the Super Eights.
Sri Lanka Bat First, Sets Imposing Target
Batting first, Sri Lanka built a strong total of 201 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Charith Asalanka was the star performer for the Lankans, scoring a crucial knock and being adjudged the Player of the Match.
Netherlands Crushed in Reply
Netherlands’ chase never really got going. They were restricted to a paltry 118 runs in their 16 overs, falling well short of the target. Sri Lanka’s bowlers were disciplined, with Nuwan Thushara picking up three wickets. Captain Scott Edwards top-scored for the Dutch with a fighting 31 runs, but it was a lone bright spot in an otherwise disappointing batting display.
Sri Lanka’s Sole World Cup Win
This victory was Sri Lanka’s only win in the tournament, but it provided a much-needed boost to their morale before heading home. While they couldn’t qualify for the knockout stages, they can take some pride in their dominant performance against the Netherlands.
Dutch Qualification Hopes Dashed in Dominant Sri Lankan Performance
The win for Sri Lanka wasn’t just about salvaging pride; it also dashed the Netherlands’ faint hopes of progressing to the Super Eights stage. The Dutch team needed a win and some favorable results in other matches to squeeze into the next round. However, their batting faltered against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack.
Early Wickets Hinder Dutch Chase
Netherlands’ chase began brightly with openers getting them off to a decent start. However, the dismissal of key batsmen within the powerplay overs put them on the back foot. They lost wickets in clusters, failing to build any significant partnerships.
Thushara Shines with the Ball
Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Thushara was the pick of the bowlers, taking three crucial wickets at crucial junctures. The other bowlers chipped in with wickets as well, not allowing the Dutch batsmen to settle down and build a score.
Focus Shifts to Super Eights
With the group stage complete, all eyes now turn to the Super Eights, where the top teams from each group battle it out for the coveted World Cup trophy. Sri Lanka and Netherlands can now analyze their performances and start planning for future tournaments.
