Sri Lanka: The resounding victory Sri Lanka had against Zimbabwe guaranteed them a spot in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023. In previous games, Deepender Singh Airee helped Nepal defeat the UAE admirably.
Sri Lanka defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets thanks to an outstanding effort on the pitch. With this victory, they go to the top of the Super Six standings and ensure their place among the top two teams when this phase is through. As a result, they have earned a spot in the World Cup that will be held in India later this year.
In this competition, Sri Lanka has failed to surpass 200 runs scored.
Under Airee’s leadership, Nepal’s lower order helped the team win by a surprising three wickets in Harare. At 63/6, the squad was having trouble, but Nepal pulled off a stunning comeback. Sandeep Lamichhane (3/23) and Karan KC (3/36) led Nepal’s bowling assault in the first innings as they bowled out the UAE for a low total.
Super Six, Match 4: Sri Lanka cruised to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe at Queen Sports Club.
It appeared as though Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne came out to bat on separate decks and had some challenges. Craig Ervine, the captain of Zimbabwe, sent the ball to mid-wicket, where Karunaratne had the best chance to flip Richard Ngarava’s delivery. If not, the opening arrangement would have been successful.
Throughout his century, Nissanka had a very combative demeanour and connected on eight fours. His third century in the qualifying rounds was this one. They both contributed to Sri Lanka scoring 100 runs in the 19th over. Ngarava soon after grabbed Karunaratne’s wicket, giving Zimbabwean supporters something to cheer about. But by the 34th over, Sri Lanka had taken control of Zimbabwe’s score, therefore it was already too late.
Nissanka Sanka also reached his second ODI century in this triumph.
The ecstatic audience had earlier died down after losing their top order in the powerplay overs. On each of the three times, Dilshan Madushanka benefited. The captain of the Subcontinent squad, Craig Ervine, was taken out in the seventh over after being caught behind the stumps, which was perhaps their biggest victory.
The risky Sean Williams may have been eliminated in the ninth over by Madushanka’s ball. However, Southpaw was able to survive when Mathisha Pathirana offered a direct opportunity on the fine leg.
Under pressure, Williams and Sikandar Raza upped their scoring pace. After a cautious start, especially Raza played some superb shots. They were comfortably advancing at a run rate of five runs per over by the 18th over.
By dismissing Raza in the 20th over, Dasun Shanaka gave Sri Lanka the breakthrough. Zimbabwe, however, had a fire-related response. In the next overs, Ryan Burl and Williams began a brutal hitting frenzy. This was the sixth time he had a fifty-plus score, and the latter also reached his half-century at this time.
Williams’ fortune, however, changed when Mahesh Thikshana clean-bowled him at 56 runs in the 23rd over. After that, Burl was bowled by the off-spinner in the 25th over, giving Sri Lanka the victory.
The Sri Lankan bowlers kept up their pursuit of wickets despite the mounting pressure. Only 35 runs could be added by Zimbabwe’s tailenders in the middle of their innings.
Dasun Shanaka elected to field after winning the toss. In the opening 10 overs, he stated, the squad will strive to make the most of the ball. Thikshana (4/25) and Madushanka (3/15), three of Sri Lanka’s top players with the ball, were the standouts.
