Sri Lanka prove too strong for Netherlands

Hosts Zimbabwe made a strong start to their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 preparations after beating Oman on the first day of warm-up matches.

There were also wins for Ireland, West Indies, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka, as teams adjusted to the conditions in Harare and Bulawayo.

Harry Tector produced the highest score of the day with 149 not out as Ireland chased down 312 against the United States of America (USA), while spin twins Yannic Cariah and Roston Chase bowled West Indies to victory over Scotland. Zimbabwe defeated Oman by 28 runs as Sikandar Raza starred with bat and ball while the UAE beat Nepal off the penultimate ball of their encounter.

In Bulawayo, Sri Lanka beat Netherlands by three wickets. Two strong middle-order partnerships helped the Netherlands rebuild having slipped to 28 for four inside nine overs.

Kasun Rajitha clean-bowled opener Max O’Dowd for the first of his three wickets, while the dangerous right-arm seamer later dismissed the dangerous Saqib Zulfiqar for 56 runs to stem the Netherlands’ charge.

 They were all out for 214 and Sri Lanka chased down that total inside 38 overs, with Dasun Shanaka top scoring with 67 not out from 52 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes), having been well set up by opener Dimuth Karunaratne 47 from 55 balls.

Scores: 

•  Netherlands - 214 (45.3) (Saqib Zulfiqar 56, Teja Nidamanuru 41, Scott Edwards 35, Kasun Rajitha 3/19, Dhananjaya de Silva 2/19, Maheesh Theekshana 2/36)
•  Sri Lanka - 215/7 (37.1) (Dasun Shanaka 67*, Dimuth Karunaratne 47, Kusal Mendis 27, Charith Asalanka 29, Clayton Floyd 2/40)