Twitter Reactions: Immaculate Sri Lanka dismantle Netherlands to reign supreme in summit clash

Sri Lanka dispatched a lacklustre Netherlands in the final to end the tournament unbeaten.

By Chaitanya Prakash

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SriLanka Cricket Team
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Sri Lanka Cricket Team. (Photo Source: JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Sri Lanka fired a warning shot to the participants of the upcoming ODI World Cup after dismantling the Netherlands in the final of the World Cup Qualifiers 2023 in Harare. Sahan Arachchige's well-compiled half-century followed by a strong bowling performance sealed an emphatic victory for the Asian Champions. 

Chasing a par total, the Dutch were off to a steady start, before they caught the disease that Sri Lanka suffered from in the first innings. They lost a mind-bending six wickets for just 64 runs in one of the most bizarre batting collapses of the tournament. 

The prodigious Dilshan Madushanka opened the floodgates with three wickets in his opening spell before Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with a couple of wickets to make a mockery of the opposition's top order. An in-form Scott Edwards' run-out further compounded Netherlands' misery.

Max O'Dowd fought a lone battle from one end, but his resistance came to an end after a canny variation from Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana. The Sri Lankan spinner was too good for the lower-order batters as Sri Lanka clinched the title without losing a single match in the tournament.

Dasun Shanaka's side were put into bat first after Scott Edwards won the toss and elected to bowl first in the summit clash. The Sri Lankans made a slight change to their batting order as the experienced Dimuth Karunaratne was rested for the game.

Sri Lanka finishe with a par total despite a strong start

Despite his omission, the Asian Champions made a decent start in the final of the tournament. However, Vikramjit Singh's twin strikes derailed Sri Lanka's start, dismissing both openers in quick succession. That is when Sahan Arachchige and Kusal Mendis steadied the ship with a brisk partnership.

While Mendis fell just seven short of a half-century, his young batting partner registered a maiden half-century to solidify Sri Lanka's position in the match. But Sri Lanka's habit of squandering advantage in a match came to the fore once again as a flurry of wickets in the latter stages completely derailed their hopes of a belligerent finish. 

It was down to a late riposte from Wanindu Hasaranga that helped the Lankans to a competitive score on a two-paced surface at the Harare Sports Club. Four Dutch players scalped two wickets each in a strong bowling display. 

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World Cup Qualifiers 2023NetherlandsSri Lanka