In a dramatic conclusion to their campaign in Group D of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka dominated the Netherlands to secure a convincing victory and finish third in the group standings. The match, held in Saint Lucia, saw Sri Lanka displaying all-round brilliance, leaving the Dutch side struggling to keep up.
The Netherlands, hopeful of progressing before the match began, saw their chances dashed as Bangladesh simultaneously secured their advancement by winning against Nepal. Opting to field after winning the toss, the Netherlands aimed to contain Sri Lanka’s batting lineup. However, Sri Lanka steadily built their innings despite losing early wickets.
Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva played pivotal roles, setting a strong foundation with partnerships that pushed Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark by the 13th over. Charith Asalanka’s aggressive batting further propelled Sri Lanka towards a formidable total of 201/6, with Angelo Matthews contributing an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls.
Chasing 202 for victory, the Netherlands made a promising start during the Powerplay but lost crucial wickets at regular intervals. Captain Winindu Hasaranga’s exceptional bowling performance, taking crucial wickets including a five-wicket haul in a devastating spell, left the Dutch reeling at 83/7 by the 12th over.
Despite a valiant effort from captain Scott Edwards, who top-scored with 31 runs, the Netherlands succumbed to Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, eventually getting bowled out for 118 in the 18th over. Sri Lanka’s victory not only secured them their only win of the World Cup but also ensured a respectable finish to their tournament journey.
The result confirmed Bangladesh’s progression alongside South Africa from Group D into the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup, marking a memorable conclusion for Sri Lanka amidst the Caribbean cricketing spectacle.
