In the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier final in Harare, Sri Lanka maintained their unblemished record by dominating the Netherlands by a score of 128 runs. Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-around excellence and Maheesh Theekshana‘s three-wicket haul made it possible for Sri Lanka to win with 26.3 overs remaining.
Before Vikramjit Singh was introduced to the attack and struck in back-to-back overs after being sent in to bat, Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama managed to score 39 runs after navigating challenging conditions. Nissanka nicked one straight to a fine leg, while Samarawickrama was dismissed for 19 runs after a superb catch by Noah Croes at cover. Vikramjit missed a great return opportunity from Kusal Mendis that would have given him a third run in three overs.
Mendis and Sahan Arachchige added 72 runs for the third wicket to start Sri Lanka’s recovery campaign. Saqib Zulfiqar’s lbw catch of Mendis ended the partnership, but Arachchige went on to join forces with Charith Asalanka and put up a 64-run stand for the fifth wicket. However, following a quiet stretch without any boundaries, he failed to lift the ante and was reverse-swept once more by Zulfiqar’s bowling. When Sri Lanka dropped from 180/3 to 190/7, Asalanka’s runout in the same over made matters worse.
Wanindu Hasaranga had to deliver a few hits in the end to help Sri Lanka pass 200, but they were still bowled out for 233 with 2.1 overs left.
In response, the Netherlands suffered a quick setback after losing a string of wickets in the first 10 overs. Vikramjit was out for 13 and Wesley Baressi was clean bowled for a duck by Dilshan Madushanka, who was the master wrecker. The game’s top wicket-taker, Wanindu Hasaranga, then got involved, dismissing Teja Nidamanuru for 0 before Madushanka removed Noah Croes for 7.
Scott Edwards, the captain of the Netherlands, was ejected for one more foul. When Hasaranga’s brilliance defeated Zulfiqar, the Netherlands were struggling at 49/6. Maheesh Theekshana managed to get through his defenses to end Max O’Dowd’s shaky innings. The player finished with the highest score of 33 but lacked fluidity. The Netherlands’ innings were immediately declared over for 105, and Theekshana went on a tear, bowling Clayton Floyd and trapping Ryan Klein and Aryan Dutt for leg byes to give Sri Lanka a commanding victory.
Brief scores: The Netherlands 105 in 23.3 overs (O’Dowd 33; Theekshana 4-31; Madushanka 3-18) were defeated by Sri Lanka 233 in 47.5 overs (Arachchige 57; van Beek 2-40) by 128 runs.
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