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Sri Lanka’s top-order batsmen hit half-centuries while leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took a brilliant six-wicket haul as the 1996 champions capped their Men’s ODI World Cup Qualifier campaign with a massive 175-run win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE). monday.
Sri Lanka posted a mammoth 355/6, with the top four coming from Pathum Nissanka (57), Dimuth Karunaratne (52), Sadera Samarawickrama (73) and top-scorer Kusal Mendis (78).
In defence, Hasaranga removed three of the UAE’s top five batsmen and took 6–24 in a convincing victory for Sri Lanka. In the process, Hasaranga recorded the third best bowling figures by any Sri Lankan bowler and also reached 50 wickets in the format as the United Arab Emirates were bowled out for 180 in 39 overs.
In conditions where there was little movement for the fast bowlers, Karunaratne’s solid technique came in handy as he easily hit six fours in the powerplay.
At the other end, Nissanka was struggling to get runs with his bat. But he overcame the early spell hitting back-to-back boundaries off Muhammad Jawadullah in the fifth over to propel his innings.
From there, Nissanka and Karunaratne kept the scoreboard ticking and in the process, the latter notched up his third consecutive half-century. But they fell in the very next over as Ayan Afzal Khan ended their 95-run partnership for the first wicket.
Joining hands with Mendis to build on the foundation, Nissanka also reached the 50-run landmark as Sri Lanka reached 133/1 at the halfway stage of their innings.
After the fall of Nissanka, Mendis hit ten fours in his 63-ball 78 and his 105-run partnership with Samarawickrama powered Sri Lanka to a big total.
Sri Lanka found themselves in some trouble when Mendis dismissed the substitute fielder off Ali Naseer, while Samarawickrama was run out as the UAE were expected to limit their scoring to the last six overs. But Aslanka had other ideas, unleashing boundary after boundary in a scintillating performance of 48 not out off just 23 balls, while Hasaranga hit three fours in the final over to take the score above 350.
In reply, the United Arab Emirates made a steady start until Lahiru Kumara took a smart catch and bowled dismissal to dismiss Rohan Mustafa for 12. Hasaranga arrived to remove Muhammad Wasim (39), Basil Hameed (0) and Asif Khan (8). Sri Lanka in two overs to take complete control of the match.
Vritya Aravind was dismissed lbw by Dhananjaya de Silva, after which there was some resistance from Rameez Shahzad (26) and Naseer (34). But Mahesh Thikshana clean bowled Naseer and Hasaranga took two wickets in two balls as UAE’s last five wickets fell for 13 runs.
Abbreviated Score:
Sri Lanka 355/6 (Kusal Mendis 78, Sadeera Samarawickrama 73, Ali Naseer 2-44) beat UAE 180 in 39 overs (Mohammed Wasim 39, Vriti Aravind 39, Wanindu Hasaranga 6-24) by 175 runs.
