NEW DELHI: On June 17, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands faced off in the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia. Sri Lanka, the 2014 champions, batted first after losing the toss. The match, game 38 of the tournament, was a dead rubber, meaning it had no impact on the standings.
Sri Lanka had a rough start when opener Pathum Nissanka was dismissed on the second ball of the match without scoring. However, Sri Lankan player Kusal Mendis provided stability by scoring 46 runs off 29 deliveries, hitting five boundaries. By the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka was in a stable position at 45/2.
After the top three Sri Lankan batters were out, the middle order stepped up. Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, and Angelo Mathews stabilized the innings, contributing most of the runs. De Silva played a measured innings of 34 runs off 26 deliveries, including three boundaries and a six.
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Charith Asalanka and the experienced Angelo Mathews built a crucial 43-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Asalanka scored a solid 46 runs off 21 balls, while Mathews remained “not out” unbeaten with 30 runs from 15 balls. Additionally, Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga added 20 runs, helping Sri Lanka reach a total of 201/6 in their first innings. For the Netherlands, Logan van Beek was the top bowler, taking two wickets.
The Netherlands started their chase with opener Michael Levitt scoring a quick 31 runs off 23 deliveries. However, Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh didn’t contribute much, leaving the Netherlands at 62/3 in under eight overs. That there was no qualification pressure on the Dutch team, the Dutch players tried to play aggressively, but this backfired as they lost four wickets quickly. Netherlands captain Scott Edwards tried his best to lead his team to victory, but he was dismissed after scoring 31 runs off 24 balls.
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Despite their efforts, the Netherlands couldn’t recover from their early setbacks and fell short of the target, giving Sri Lanka a significant win. This match showcased Sri Lanka’s strong batting lineup and the Netherlands’ fighting spirit, even in a game with no bearing on the tournament’s outcome.