In a thrilling ICC World Cup encounter, Sadeera Samarawickrama displayed unwavering composure as he guided Sri Lanka to a clinical five-wicket win over the Netherlands. This victory marked Sri Lanka’s first win in the tournament, ending their streak of three consecutive losses.
The Netherlands, opting to bat, had a rocky start but witnessed a remarkable recovery led by South African-born Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek. The duo’s maiden half-centuries allowed the Netherlands to post a competitive total of 262. However, the Dutch off-spinner Aryan Dutt (3/44) posed early challenges for Sri Lanka by dismissing Kusal Perera (5) and skipper Kusal Mendis (8) within the powerplay.
Sri Lanka, determined to secure their first win, never lost sight of their target, with Samarawickrama anchoring their chase with a well-deserved half-century, his sixth in ODIs. Lending solidity to the middle-order, Samarawickrama’s unbeaten knock of 91, completed with composure, ensured Sri Lanka’s victory with 10 balls to spare.
Pathum Nissanka (54; 52 balls) contributed with his third consecutive half-century, setting the stage for Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka to take the chase away from the Netherlands in a pivotal 77-run fourth-wicket partnership.
The Dutch bowlers, who executed a remarkable upset against South Africa earlier, failed to maintain the same control in this game. Their bowling was inconsistent, and they struggled to build pressure on the Lankan batters. Asalanka, with two boundaries and the only six of the innings, added momentum to the chase.
Although Aryan Dutt managed to break the partnership by dismissing Asalanka, the required run-rate was well within Sri Lanka’s reach, with 82 runs required off 104 balls. Dhananjaya de Silva played sensibly, rotating the strike to support Samarawickrama.
Samarawickrama and De Silva couldn’t complete the chase as De Silva was bowled by Colin Ackermann. However, there were no further hiccups in the Lankan innings, and Dushan Hemantha hit the winning runs in the penultimate over.
Earlier, Sybrand Engelbrecht led a remarkable recovery for the Netherlands, defying a poor start and contributing a gritty 70 runs. Engelbrecht’s partnership with Logan van Beek, who secured a maiden half-century, played a pivotal role in the Netherlands’ comeback after being reduced to 91 for six.
Sri Lankan bowlers Kasun Rajitha (4/50) and Dilshan Madushanka (4/49) were the standout performers, but the lack of support from the other end allowed the Dutchmen to make rapid progress.
Engelbrecht’s journey to top-tier cricket is a remarkable story of resilience and a return to the sport after pursuing an MBA and slipping into oblivion. He retired from all forms of cricket in 2016, only to make a comeback for the Netherlands in 2021. His experience and composure during this match played a pivotal role in the Netherlands’ fightback.
The clash between these two bottom-rung teams showcased the unpredictable nature of cricket, with Sri Lanka ultimately emerging victorious, securing their first win in the ICC World Cup.
