Charged up Netherlands seek to down winless Sri Lanka
Saturday 21 October, BRSABVE Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
After suffering back-to-back losses in the World Cup, Netherlands added spice to the tournament with an upset against a dominant South Africa team.
They showed the kind of form that had made them such a dangerous side in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.
It Takes One Day: Episode 19: preview of Netherlands v Sri Lanka at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 with former pacer Pommie Mbangwa and ICC Digital Insider Ridhima Pathak
A solid fifty from Scott Edwards, and cameos from Roelof van der Merwe and Aryan Dutt lifted their batting effort. The bowling contributions were an egalitarian affair, with four bowlers picking at least two wickets.
The Dharamsala success will be an added boost for the Dutch.
Match preview with Sri Lanka young gun Dunith Wellalage and coach Anton Roux, and Netherlands batter Colin Ackermann at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023
On the other hand, little has gone Sri Lanka’s way since they have landed in India. Their injury concerns worsened when skipper Dasun Shanaka was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a quadriceps tear. They conceded a record World Cup total against South Africa in Delhi, and succumbed to a 102 run loss.
In the next game they closed in on 350 with the willow, however weren’t able to defend in what turned out to be a record World Cup chase by Pakistan. And Australia proved to be the overall better side in Lucknow, winning the game with 15 overs to spare.
The Lions need a switch on in the tournament, and the Netherlands encounter can be a good starting point.
**Netherlands squad:**Scott Edwards (c), Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Vikram Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Saqib Zulfiqar, Shariz Ahmad, Sybrand Engelbrecht.
Sri Lanka squad: Kusal Mendis (c), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Kumara, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne
Netherlands are backing themselves to make a huge impact at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 after their rousing triumph over South Africa
A number of contributions for the Dutch in the Dharamsala heist meant that Aryan Dutt’s performance almost went under the radar. Dutt played a solid hand towards the end with the bat, slamming a 23* from nine balls to provide his team a late boost.
He then returned and bowled at an economy of 3.8. The reward of his disciplined bowling was reaped by his team-mates.
The lanky spinner has the habit of picking a good length quite early in his spell and then sticking around it to trouble the batter.
A good start from Dutt can help the Netherlands do well in Lucknow.
Sri Lanka coach Anton Roux knows all about the qualities that Netherlands possess, ahead of the two nations' meeting at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
During their Lucknow encounter against Australia, Dilshan Madushanka showed top form with the ball. Among his exploits was a double-wicket maiden, accounting for David Warner and Steve Smith.
The left-arm pacer has been the pick of the bowlers for the Asian side throughout the tournament. He has seven wickets to his name at an average of 26.28. So far, no other wicket-taker averages less than 90 for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka would hope that Madushanka brings his ability to extract extra movement off the wicket with the new ball to good use against the Dutch on Saturday.
Dilshan Madushanka's double-wicket maiden destroys Australia's top-order | CWC23