Sri Lanka through to Super Sixes

Sri Lanka are through to the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers after a comprehensive win over Ireland in Bulawayo yesterday. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga starred with a five-wicket haul after Dimuth Karunaratne posted his maiden century in ODIs as Sri Lanka won by 133 runs.

Karunaratne, who has been recalled to the ODI outfit has been in terrific form having posted three consecutive half-centuries leading up to yesterday’s game and he went onto score his maiden ODI hundred yesterday.

Ireland’s Barry McCarthy had threatened to run through Sri Lanka’s batting line-up after he took two wickets in two balls, but Karunaratne and Sadeera Samarawickrama added 168 runs for the third wicket to help Sri Lanka post more than 300 runs.

Charith Asalanka with 38 and Dhananjaya de Silva with 42 made some vital contributions but nothing much from the lower middle order as they were bowled out inside 50 overs.

However, a target of 326 proved beyond Ireland’s reach. The Irish were under pressure coming into the game as they had suffered shock defeats at the hands of Scotland and Oman. Defeat to Sri Lanka yesterday meant that they will not progress to the next round of the tournament and their hopes of reaching this year’s World Cup in India has been smashed.

Sri Lanka meanwhile are through to the second round, but the former champions will be keen to pick up a win in their last group game against Scotland as points against all teams that qualify for the next stage will be carried forward.

After the quicks Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara picked up a wicket each in the first seven overs, leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga ran through the Irish batting to finish with figures of five for 79.

That was Hasaranga’s third five wicket haul and he equaled Waqar Younis’ record of three consecutive five fors in ODIs. Maheesh Theekshana finished with two wickets as Sri Lanka shot out Ireland for 192 in 31 overs.

It was a disappointing batting display by the Irish whom many had expected to go through for the second round. But this was a campaign where they had very little going right for them.Zimbabwe, Netherlands and West Indies have already qualified for the Super Sixes from the next group.