ICC T20 World Cup Group A qualifying round: Sri Lanka edge past Netherlands to qualify for Super 12

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 Sri Lanka became the first team from Group A to qualify for the Super 12 stage with a nervy win over Netherlands played at Kardinia Park, Geelong on Thursday.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and decided to bat first. It was a cautious start by Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis against disciplined Netherlands bowling. Nissanka survived a few anxious moments against van Meekeren. Mendis and Nissanka showed intent in the final over of field restrictions. At the end of the first six overs, Sri Lanka scored 36 for 0.

Van Meekeren produced a peach of a yorker to dismiss Nissanka and Dhanajaya de Silva off successive deliveries. Nissanka and Mendis added 36 runs for the opening wicket. Mendis showed intent in taking on Netherlands spinners putting them under pressure. Charith Asalanaka struggled initially before making life tough for Dutch captain Scott Edwards. De Leede got a much-needed breakthrough dismissing Asalanaka caught by Edwards. Asalanaka and Mendis added 60 runs for the 3rd wicket.

Kusal Mendis showed his class by completing fifty off 34 balls. Bhanuka Rajapaksa looked in decent touch putting the Netherlands bowlers under pressure. De Leede struck again to dismiss Rajapaksa caught by Pringle. Rajapaksa and Mendis added 34 runs for the 4th wicket. Kusal Mendis provided the impetus with some lusty hits to help Sri Lanka post 162 for 6. Mendis was eventually dismissed with a lovely catch by van Beek.

Chasing 163 runs to win, Vikramjit Singh and Max O Dowd started off decently. Maheesh Theekshana got the breakthrough dismissing Singh caught by Shanaka at mid-on. Lahiru Kumara bowled with pace and troubled Netherlands batters. Kumara eventually dismissed Leede to leave Netherlands at 40 for 2 in 6 overs.

Hasranaga took the wicket of Ackermann in his first over with simple return catch to leave Netherlands in trouble. Tom Cooper and O Dowd steadied the ship putting some pressure on Lankan bowlers with the required run rate climbing. Theekshana went through Cooper’s defense ending. Scott Edwards looked innovative with his strokes.

Binuka Fernando got rid of Edwards trying to play sweep and was bowled. Max O Dowd looked composed but there was no support for him. Hasaranga was simply superb with his lengths. O Dowd completed fifty off 38 balls. Shanaka provided a superb direct throw to dismiss van Meekeren. Sri Lanka won the match by 16 runs as Lahiru Kumara bowled a great final over.

Sri Lanka 162 for 6 in 20 overs ( Kusal Mendis 79, Asalanaka 31, Van Meekeren 2/25) beat Netherlands 146 for 9 in 20 overs ( Max O Dowd 71*, Hasranaga 3/28) by 16 runs.

For his 79 off 44 balls, Kusal Mendis was named the man of the match award. Sri Lanka could finish at the top and be in Group 2 along with arch-rivals Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, and one more qualifier. 








Sri Lanka beat  Netherlands by 16 runs to qualify for the Super 12 stage 

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