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Tuesday, 18 June 2024 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sign off disappointing T20 World Cup on a winning note

Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka hit five sixes in his innings of 46 against Netherlands

Sri Lanka came up with a terrific performance excelling in all three departments to beat the Netherlands by a convincing margin of 83 runs in their final Group D game at Gros Islet on Sunday night to record their first win of the T20 World Cup 2024.

Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka for the second ball of the match sending nerves in the dressing room, but key contributions from the top and middle order got Sri Lanka to 201-6, the highest T20I total made on this ground.

Kusal Mendis (46 off 29 balls, 5 fours) and Dhananjaya de Silva (34 off 26 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) figured in a brisk partnership of 45 for the third wicket. Angelo Mathews, dropped by Sybrand Engelbrecht, went onto score 30* off 15 balls (1 four, 2 sixes) and Player of the Match Charith Asalanka, after surviving a lbw scare, capitalised on some erratic bowling by the Dutch to slam five sixes in his knock of 46 off 21 balls. Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga scored a streaky boundary followed by a couple of sixes to push the score past the 200-run mark.

Netherlands, who came in with the hope of making it to the Super 8s with a win and requiring one other result to go their way, picked up quick wickets but could not capitalise on the early inroads. They commenced their chase with great intent but the quality of the Sri Lankan bowling and the news that Bangladesh had defeated Nepal dented the chase, as they were bowled out for 118.

The momentum created by the Sri Lankan bowlers carried on after the powerplay. Their lack of experience playing the slingy action of Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara was visible as the associate side struggled. With 100 required off the last five overs, Dutch skipper Scott Edwards tried his utmost to keep the score moving but the effort proved too much for him and he succumbed to 31 being ninth out as the Lankan bowlers simply ran through the batting.

Sri Lanka, with two points from the win, finished third in Group D with three points behind South Africa and Bangladesh, the two teams that qualified from the group to the next stage.

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