The architect of the chase was Sadeera Samarawickrama, who remained unbeaten on 91 (107b, 7×4). He might be a tad disappointed that he could not go on to complete a hundred, but the team’s victory should be compensation enough, especially after his maiden ODI century went in vain against Pakistan at Hyderabad.

It was an excellent knock by Samarawickrama, who did precisely what his team wanted him to. After Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis fell to a fine spell from off-spinner from Aryan Dutt, the No. 4 was involved in some productive partnerships.

He added 52 for the third wicket with opener Pathum Nissanka (54, 52b, 9×4), 77 for the fourth with Charith Asalanka (44, 66b, 2×4, 1×6) and 76 for the fifth with Dhananjaya de Silva (30, 37b, 1×4, 2×6). The partnerships frustrated the Dutch, fresh from their stunning win against South Africa at Dharamshala.

Netherlands’ Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek run between the wickets during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match between Sri Lanka and Netherlands, at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Oct. 21, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

New record

Earlier, it was once again the lower order that ensured Netherlands would put up a competitive score. Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek added 130 for the seventh wicket, breaking the World Cup record set by M.S. Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in the 2019 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand at Old Trafford.

When skipper Scott Edwards was bowled off an inside edge by a well-flighted off-break from Maheesh Theekshana that turned a long way from outside the off-stump, Netherlands was 91 for six. But, Engelbrecht and van Beek, both former Under-19 World Cuppers with South Africa and New Zealand respectively, dropped their heads to steady the ship.

Seamers Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha may have made the Dutch wonder if the decision to bat first was the right one. It all began with Rajitha’s swing trapping Vikramjit Singh leg-before; he then had Max D’Owd playing on and Colin Ackermann, who was playing well, caught behind.

Madushanka then struck twice in as many overs, sending back Bas de Leede and Teja Nidamanuru.

It looked as if the Lankan bowling was finally getting its act right after the disappointment in the previous matches. And the batters then completed the job for Sri Lanka.

Scoreboards:

Netherlands innings: Vikramjit Singh lbw b Rajitha 4 Max ODowd b Rajitha 16 Colin Ackermann c Kusal Mendis b Rajitha 29 Bas de Leede c Kusal Perera b Dilshan Madushanka 6 Teja Nidamanuru lbw b Dilshan Madushanka 9 Scott Edwards b M Theekshana 16 Sybrand Engelbrecht b Dilshan Madushanka 70 Logan van Beek c Asalanka b Rajitha 59 Roelof van der Merwe c Kusal Mendis b Dilshan Madushanka 7 Aryan Dutt not out 9 Paul van Meekeren run out 4

Extras: (b 0, lb 1, w 26, nb 1, p 5) 33

Total: (All out in 49.4 overs) 262

Fall of wickets: 7-1, 48-2, 54-3, 68-4, 71-5, 91-6, 221-7, 244-8, 252-9, 262-10

Bowlers: Dilshan Madushanka 9.4-1-49-4, Kasun Rajitha 9-0-50-4, Chamika Karunaratne 9-1-58-0, Maheesh Theekshana 10-0-44-1, Dushan Hemantha 8-0-42-0, Dhananjaya de Silva 4-0-130-0.