Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], June 30 : In the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier match, Sri Lanka defeated the Netherlands by 21 runs on Friday. Netherlands captain Scott Edwards said that the team gave a disappointing performance with the bat.
The Netherlands tried their best to cause another upset as they defeated West Indies in their last match and were close to defeating another big team in the competition. But the Dutch team was well short of the mark this time.
"We gave a disappointing performance with the bat. A run-out like that or a great piece of fielding can change the game. We bat deep...we should have gotten over the line. I look at the field and see what it is (on playing sweep shots against Hasaranga and Theekshana). They are quality bowlers, you got to find a way to put pressure on them," Netherlands captain Scott Edwards said.
"Yes, definitely, we're disappointed. At the halfway mark, we thought they were under par. We had a good start. Credit to them, they bowled well in that little patch there and we couldn't get over the line. We bowled well throughout the whole innings. Dhananjaya batted exceptionally well, he didn't give us many chances.
"Going into the game, we knew we had guys who can bat. All the way, I was confident. There was a bit of reverse at the end there and a bit of spin. I back those boys. We will go back and have a look at what we could have done better today. But yeah, in this whole tournament, you never know what's gonna happen. We'll do what we can in the next two games," he added.
Sri Lanka are at the top of the Super Six stage points table with six points. The Netherlands are in fourth place with two points.
Coming to the match, Sri Lanka opted to bat first and were out for 213 in 47.4 overs. The one-time champions lost half of their side for 67 runs. But a knock from Dhananjaya (93 in 111 balls, with eight fours and two sixes) and contributions from Dimuth Karunaratne (33), Wanindu Hasaranga (20) and Maheesh Theekshana (28) took SL to a 200-plus score.
Logan van Beek (3/26) and Bas de Leede (3/42) were the pick of the bowlers for the Netherlands.
The Netherlands struggled in the chase of 214 and lost their openers Vikramjit Singh and Max o'Dowd for ducks.
Wesley Barresi and Bas de Leede began the work of rebuilding for Netherlands and brought up a half-century stand for the third wicket. Barresi got his 7th ODI fifty as well.
The Dutch faltered after the wicket of Barresi (52 in 50 balls, with six fours and a six) and were soon five down, needing 87 runs to win. Leede also scored 41 in 53 balls, with three boundaries.
Maheesh Theekshana picked up two wickets in his fifth over to peg back the Netherlands further. But captain Scott Edwards refused to go down without a fight. He shared crucial stands with the lower order to give his team hope.
However, he was left stranded at the other end on 67* in 68 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes as the Dutch fell 22 runs short of the desired target. The Netherlands finished at 192 in 40 overs.
Theekshana (3/31) and Hasaranga (2/53) were the pick of the bowlers for SL.
Dhananjaya got the 'Player of the Match' for his fifty.
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