Sri Lanka thrash Netherlands by 128 runs in final of World Cup qualifiers

Harare. Dilshan Madushanka (3/18) and Mahish Teekshana (4/31) bowled brilliantly as Sri Lanka beat Netherlands by a massive 128 runs in the final of the ODI World Cup Qualifier, here on Saturday. Recorded 10th consecutive win. Both these teams have already qualified for the 50-over World Cup to be held in India from October 5 to November 19 this year. With this win, Sri Lanka will take part in the tournament as qualifier one and Netherlands as qualifier two in the World Cup.

After being invited to bat first, the Sri Lankan team was dismissed for 233 runs in 47.5 overs.Chasing the target, the entire Netherlands innings was reduced to 105 runs in 23.3 overs. Sahan Arachige top-scored for Sri Lanka with 57 off 71 balls. Kusal Mendis (43), Charith Aslanka (36), Wanindu Hasaranga (29) could not convert good starts into big innings. During his innings, Arachige laid the foundation for a big score by sharing 72 runs with Mendis for the third wicket and 64 runs for the fourth wicket with Aslanka, but the team’s innings faltered after his dismissal in the 36th over.

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Vikramjit Singh, Logan van Beek, Ryan Kline and Saqib Zulfiqar took two wickets each for Netherlands while Aryan Dutt took one wicket.Chasing the target, only Max O’Dowd could provide some resistance to the Sri Lankan bowlers for the Netherlands. He became the victim of Teekshana after scoring 33 runs. Apart from him, only Van Beek (20 not out) and Vikramjeet (13) could score runs in double figures for the team. Apart from man of the match Madushanka and Teekshana, Hasaranga also took two wickets.