Sri Lanka were terrific in all three departments against Netherlands, registering a comfortable win by 83 runs in their final game of the 2024 T20 World Cup. An early wicket would have sent nerves in the dressing room of the Island nation but key contributions from the top and middle order got Sri Lanka to 201-6 on an excellent batting pitch.
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 couldn’t capitalise on the early inroads. The Dutch commenced the 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.
Powerplay: Netherlands keep it tidy
Phase Score – 45-2 (RR: 7.50; 4×4, 1×6)
Vivian Kingma dismissed Pathum Nissanka off the second ball with Engelbrecht taking a good catch at deep backward point. The opening bowlers for Netherlands managed to keep the scores tidy with consistent lines and lengths.
Having spent a decent amount of time at the crease, Kusal and Kamindu Mendis broke the shackles in the fifth over, hitting Kingma for a couple of boundaries while rotating the strike. Paul van Meekeren, introduced in the 6th over, was flicked off the pads for a six by Kamindu into the breeze but Meekeren had the last laugh as the former hit a short and wide ball straight to backward point.
Middle Overs: Dhananjaya and Kusal set up the platform for a big finish
Phase Score – 79-2 (RR:8.56; 6×4, 2×6)
With boundaries drying up after the powerplay, Sri Lanka plugged the ball into gaps and ran well between the wickets. An expensive 9th over by Tim Pringle produced 12 runs, with Dhananjaya dabbing a ball past the keeper for four while Mendis thumped him over square leg for four. A brisk partnership between Dhananjaya and Kusal came to an end when the latter pulled Aryan Dutt against the wind, giving Engelbrecht an easy catch. Dhananjaya continued on his merry way, taking on Van Meekeren in the 13th over for 18 runs before being finally dismissed by Pringle.
Death Overs: Asalanka, Mathews and Hasaranga deal in sixes
Phase Score – 77-2 (RR: 15.4; 2×4, 8×6)
Mathews was dropped by Engelbrecht while Asalanka survived a lbw scare – and the batters didn’t fail to capitalise. Erratic lines and lengths by the Dutch were bonuses to Sri Lanka as Pringle was dispatched for 19 runs in his final over. Asalanka smashed Logan van Beek for 2 sixes over cover before the bowler pulled it back with a couple of wickets off consecutive deliveries in an eventful 18th over. Skipper Hasaranga scored a streaky boundary followed by a couple of sixes, taking a liking to van Beek, and pushed the score past 200.
Powerplay: Levitt and O’Dowd go big but Sri Lanka pulls things back
Phase Score – 47-2 (RR: 7.83; 2×4, 4×6)
Angelo Mathews started well with the new ball in his first over, conceding only five runs but Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd used the conditions beautifully, scoring 39 in the next 3 overs with Theekshana conceding 13 in his first. A change of ends resulted in Thushara picking up O’Dowd, who was caught at deep square leg. Theekshana tied up Vikramjeet Singh with a favourable matchup and the resulting pressure created led to the dismissal of Levitt who charged the off spinner too early to get stumped.
Middle Overs: The bowlers break the back of the chase
Phase Score – 55-6 (RR: 6.11; 2×4, 1×6)
The momentum created by the Sri Lankan bowlers carried on after the powerplay with a tied-down Vikramjeet attempting to pull Shanaka, was caught at deep mid-wicket. Engelbrecht hit Hasaranga for a six, but quickly perished to Pathirana when he chipped a ball to long on. Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek perished off consecutive deliveries with the Dutch reeling at 71-6 in 10 overs. The lack of experience playing the slingy action was visible as the associate side struggled against Pathirana, especially Aryan Dutt who gave himself too much room but had his off stump uprooted. After the initial onslaught from Levitt, the bowlers stuck to stump-to-stump bowling, not giving any freebies to the Dutch.
Death Overs: Netherlands fall well short
Phase Score – 16-2 (RR: 9.58; 1×4, 1×6)
With 100 required off the last five overs, Scott Edwards hit Theekshana over deep-mid-wicket as Shanaka misjudged a catch. Edwards then carved Thushara through the covers for a four. However, the pacer struck the very next ball, deceiving the Dutch skipper into an early pull who hit it straight to mid-wicket. Proceedings came to a close two balls later with van Meekeren getting trapped plumb in front of the stumps after attempting a scoop shot, giving Sri Lanka a comfortable victory.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 201/6 in 20 overs (Charith Asalanka 46, Kusal Mendis; Logan van Beek 2-45 beat Netherlands 118/10 in 20 overs (Michael Levitt 31, Scott Edwards 31; Nuwan Thushara 3-24) by 83 runs.
What next?
Both teams head home. Netherland finish fourth in their group with one win while Sri Lanka’s forgettable World Cup campaign came to close with consolatory victory – their only win of the tournament.
