T20 World Cup 2024, Match 38 Review: Sri Lanka register convincing victory over Netherlands

The 2014 edition champions Sri Lanka (SL) and the Netherlands (NED) faced off in game 38 of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia, on Monday, June 17 in a dead rubber. The game began with the Lankans coming in to bat first after losing the toss. 

The side faced an early blow as their opener Pathum Nissanka was dismissed in the second ball of the match, departing without adding any run to the scorecard. Whereas Kusal Mendis scored 46 runs in 29 deliveries, smashing the Dutch bowlers for five boundaries. After the end of the powerplay, the scorecard stood at 45/2 with the former champions finding themselves at a stable situation.

After the top three Lankan batters walked back, it was the middle order consisting of Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, and Angelo Mathews that stabilized the innings for their side, scoring the major chunk of the runs. De Silva scored a careful knock of 34 runs off 26 deliveries, smashing three boundaries and a six.

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Asalanka and experienced Mathews stitched an important 43-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Asalanka scored a solid 46 runs in 21 deliveries whereas Mathews stayed unbeaten on a score of 30 runs in 15 deliveries. Furthermore, skipper Wanindu Hasaranga added 20 runs on the board as Sri Lanka managed to post a total of 201/6 in the first innings.  

As for Scott Edwards and Co, Logan van Beek was the highest wicket-taker for his side, with two wickets to his name.

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Aiming to chase down the target, the Dutch side got off to a flying start, as their opener Michael Levitt scored a fiery 31-run knock off 23 deliveries. On the other hand, Max O'Dowd and Vikramjit Singh didn't add much to the scorecard, as Netherlands's tally stood at 62/3 under eight overs. With no pressure of qualifying for the next stage, the Dutch side tried playing their shots freely. But the approach backfired them as they lost four wickets in quick succession. Edwards was trying his level best to make sure his team ended on the winning side, but in the process lost his wicket after scoring 31 runs off 24 deliveries.

With no batter staying at the crease for long, Hasaranga and his men sealed a convincing 83-run win. Nuwan Thushara was the pick of the bowlers for his side, picking three wickets in 3.4 overs.