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All-round Sri Lanka down Netherlands in Qualifiers final
Sri Lanka continued their unbeaten streak and beat Netherlands by a commanding 128-run margin in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier in Harare. Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round brilliance and Maheesh Theekshana’s three-wicket haul were key elements in the victory that Sri Lanka wrapped up with 26.3 overs to spare.
After being put in to bat, Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama got through tricky conditions and added 39 runs before Vikramjit Singh was introduced in the attack and struck in back-to-back overs. Samarawickrama departed for 19 runs, thanks to a brilliant catch by Noah Croes at cover, whereas Nissanka clipped one straight to fine leg. Vikramjit could have a third in three overs but couldn’t hold onto a sharp return chance from Kusal Mendis.
Mendis and Sahan Arachchige then began the rebuilding process for Sri Lanka, adding 72 runs for the third wicket. The partnership was broken by Saqib Zulfiqar, who trapped Mendis lbw but Arachchige went on to forge another important partnership with Charith Asalanka, putting up a 64-run stand for the fifth wicket. He, however, fell trying to up the ante after a quiet period without boundaries and fell to a reverse-sweep, again off the bowling off Zulfiqar. Asalanka’s run out in the same over made things worse during a phase that saw Sri Lanka drop from 180/3 to 190/7.
It took a few blows from Wanindu Hasaranga towards the end to get Sri Lanka past 200 but they were still bowled out for 233 with 2.1 overs remaining.
In response, Netherlands faced an early setback, losing a flurry of wickets within the opening 10 overs. Dilshan Madushanka was the wrecker-in-chief, dismissing Vikramjit for 13 and clean bowling Wesley Baressi for a duck. The tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Wanindu Hasaranga, then joined the action, trapping Teja Nidamanuru for 0 before Madushanka claimed the wicket of Noah Croes for 7.
Netherlands’ troubles continued as skipper Scott Edwards was run out for 1. Zulfiqar fell prey to the brilliance of Hasaranga and Netherlands were down in the doldrums at 49/6. Max O’Dowd’s top-scored with 33 but lacked fluency, his scratchy innings coming to an end when Maheesh Theekshana got through his defences. Theekshana then got on a roll, trapping Ryan Klein and Aryan Dutt lbw and bowling Clayton Floyd to wrap the Netherlands’ innings for 105 and secure a dominant win for Sri Lanka.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 233 in 47.5 overs (Arachchige 57; van Beek 2-40) beat Netherlands 105 in 23.3 overs (O’Dowd 33; Theekshana 4-31, Madushanka 3-18) by 128 runs
Half-centuries from Gull Feroza and Sidra Amin helped Pakistan start their tour of Sri Lanka on a winning note. After restricting Sri Lanka to 210 for 9, thanks to Nashra Sandhu’s 3 for 42, Pakistan got home with five wickets and seven overs to spare in the first woman’s ODI in Hambantota.
Vishmi Gunaratne, reunited with captain chamari Athapaththu at the top of the order, helped Sri Lanka lay a solid foundation after they opted to bat. The hosts raced to 31 without loss in the first five overs. Gunaratne and Athapaththu soon brought up their fifth fifty-run partnership in ODIs, the most by an opening pair for Sri Lanka.
Once spin came on, the scoring slowed down. Gunaratne was the first to depart when she became Sandhu’s first victim. Athapaththu and Hasini Perera then added 53 for the second wicket before the Sri Lanka captain was bowled by Sandhu. Pakistan applied the squeeze when Sri Lanka were 109 for 2 in the 24th over. The only notable stand for Sri Lanka thereon was between Nilakshika Silva and Kavisha Dilhari, who added 42 for the fifth wicket. But Sri Lanka’s final surge never came and they lost 5 for 32 in the last seven overs to be restricted to a below-par total.
Pakistan hardly broke a sweat in their chase. Feroza struck her fourth successive ODI half-century. She was rapid in the first powerplay, and was the aggressor in the 58-run opening partnership with Sadar Shamas. Feroza then added 90 for the second wicket with Amin, who batted steadily. Feroza eventually fell for a breezy 77-ball 78 while Amin scored 57 off 94 before being dismissed, with victory in sight.
The win was Pakistan’s fifth consecutive ODI win, which put them second on the ICC Women’s Championship points table.
Scores:
Pakistan Women 211 for 5 in 43 overs (Gull Feroza 78, Sidra Amin 57; Kavisha Dilhari 2-37) beat Sri Lanka Women 210 for 9 in 50 overs (Nilakshika Silva 46, Chamari Athapaththu 46; Nashra Sandhu 3-42, Tasmia Rubab 2-34) by five wickets
(CRICINFO)
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