Sadeera Guides SL To First Win Of WC 2023 After Madushanka, Rajitha’s Four-Fers

Sadeera Samarawickrama celebrates his 50 against Netherlands at the 2023 World Cup (x.com)

Brief Scores: Netherlands: 262 all out (49.4 overs) [Sybrand Engelbrecht: 70 (82), Logan van Beek: 59 (75); Dilshan Madushanka 4/49 (9.4), Kasun Rajitha 4/50 (9)] lost to Sri Lanka: 263-5 (48.2 overs) [Sadeera Samarawickrama: 91* (107), Pathum Nissanka: 54 (52); Aryan Dutt 3/44 (10), Colin Ackermann 1/39 (8.2)] by five wickets.

Sri Lanka punched out a comprehensive all-round performance against the Netherlands in Lucknow to register their opening points of the ongoing 2023 World Cup.

Logan, Engelbrecht Lift NED After New-Ball Bursts

Sri Lanka’s new-ball pacers Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha mowed the Netherlands’ top five in the first 20 overs of the innings. While Rajitha accounted for each of the first three Dutchmen to shatter their top-order start at 54-3, Madushanka dismissed Bas de Leede and Teja Nidamanuru in quick succession to worsen their troubles at 71-5.

Moreover, ace spinner Maheesh Theekshana also pinched in with a wicket by removing Netherlands captain Scott Edwards for a run-a-ball 16 in the team’s 22nd over. Following Edwards’ untimely departure, lower-order batters Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek both slammed rebellious half-centuries from their ends to guide the Netherlands towards a respectable total.

About 33 extras from Sri Lankan bowlers, including 26 in wides, also helped out the Netherlands’ cause as they surged to a competitive 262-run total upfront.

Madushanka and Rajitha, following their opening blitz, eventually finished the innings with four wickets each.

Samarawickrama guides SL to easy win

Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka, unfazed by two early wickets from the other end, went on to record 54 composed runs to steady his side in their tense run-chase. Prior to his half-century, Netherlands new-ball spinner Aryan Dutt dismissed Kusal Perera and captain Kusal Mendis, both within the powerplay, as Sri Lanka slumped to 52-2 in 9.3 overs.

Sadeera Samarawickrama, who arrived at the crease following his skipper’s dismissal, shared 50-plus stands with Nissanka, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva for the subsequent three wickets to guide his side to the brink of victory.

Dhananjaya, in his quest for glory, lost his stumps to Colin Ackermann to make way for Dushan Hemantha into the middle when the Sri Lankans were just a hit away from sealing the game.

Samarawickrama, on the other hand, remained unbeaten at 91 as he guided his side past the finishing line in the penultimate over of the match.

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