The Lankan Lions dominated another of their Group A rivals in the preliminary round of this year’s T20 World Cup, clinching an easy win over the Netherlands in Sharjah on Friday.
Mystery spinners Wanindu Hasaranga (3/9) and Maheesh Theekshana (2/3) were the chief destroyers for Sri Lanka as they ran through the Netherlands middle-order, allowing none of their batters any form of respite.
On a dry spin-friendly track, the Dutch were always second-favourites to tackle Hasaranga and Theekshana, whose variations are yet to be properly resolved by some of the prominent batters of the world. But few would’ve still anticipated them to be 44 all out.
In a sorry looking scorecard, only Colin Ackermann (11) among their batters reached the double digits. Once Hasaranga and Theekshana pushed them into a corner, the Dutch were forced to try and over-attack the Lankan pacers, among whom Lahiru Kumara bagged a three-fer (3/7).
To put up a fight, the Netherlands needed their best batters, including the in-form opener Max O’Dowd, to come to the party against a more fancied bowling attack. But as it often happens in such games, O’Dowd got run out in the very first over of the match. The right-hander had made 51 and 70 in Holland’s last two games, but here he had to make a long walk back at the score of just 2.
In the run-chase, Sri Lanka tried to finish off the proceedings as quickly as possible and lost a couple of wickets in the process. One of their heroes from the win against Ireland, opener Pathum Nissanka (0), got out for a duck, while Charith Asalanka made only 6. But Kusal Perera finally looked like regaining his flow and rhythm and made an unbeaten 24-ball 33 to take his team home.
Brief scores
Netherlands 44 in 10 overs (Ackermann 11; Kumara 3/7, Hasaranga 3/9) lost to Sri Lanka 45/2 in 7.1 overs (Perera 33; Glover 1/12) by 8 wickets
