Sri Lanka open World Cup account with solid win in Lucknow

Netherlands v Sri Lanka: Match Centre and Scorecard

Sri Lanka began the chase positively but were rocked by two quick blows from Aryan Dutt in the first Powerplay. However, they made strong progress thereafter on the back of positive knocks from Sadeera Samarawickrama (91*), Pathum Nissanka (54) and Charith Asalanka (44).

Earlier, feisty fifties from Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek helped Netherlands to a competitive total against Sri Lanka in Lucknow. Kasun Rajitha (4/50) and Dilshan Madushanka (4/49) starred with the ball for Sri Lanka.

Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka ensured that Sri Lanka marched ahead towards their target without too many hiccups after the 25-over mark. Despite losing Asalanka for 44 in the 34th over, Sri Lanka were well-placed to win the game.

A solid 76-run stand between Samarawickrama and Dhananjaya de Silva helped them close in on the target. They won the game in the 49th over.

Aryan Dutt's accurate bowling troubled Sri Lanka during their chase of 263. Kusal Perera fell early when he failed to gain the elevation while going for a cut, and played one straight to the short third man.

While Pathum Nissanka hit a brisk, boundary-clad knock to keep Sri Lanka in the chase, Dutt struck yet again in the final over of the Powerplay. This time he got Kusal Mendis, who fell to a mistimed sweep which went up in the air and was grasped by Paul van Meekeren at short fine leg.

Nissanka continued in aggressive fashion and hit a brisk fifty in the 15th over. In that over, Sri Lanka took 16 runs off Bas de Leede. However, van Meekeren struck back for the Dutch in the 17th over and removed Nissanka for 54.

Asalanka arrived at No.5 to hold the innings together with a patient knock, even as Samarawickrama went for his shots.

In the morning, after early damage from Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka had Netherlands reeling at 91/6, Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek put together a crucial partnership for the Dutch.

They added 130 runs for the seventh wicket, which was a Cricket World Cup record for that wicket. Both batters got to their career-best scores: Engelbrecht getting to 70, while van Beek finished on 59.

Their stand helped the Dutch overcome a tricky phase and cross the 200-run mark.

Dilshan Madushanka (4/49) struck back for Sri Lanka in a brilliant final spell. He accounted for Engelbrecht and Roelof van der Merwe.

He got good support from Rajitha, who finished with 4/50.

Rajitha did the early damage with three wickets while pace partner Dilshan Madushanka later ensured Sri Lanka remained on top with two scalps of his own.

The Sri Lanka spinners then came on to control the middle overs as Maheesh Theekshana claimed the key wicket of Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards (16) who had won the toss and elected to bat first.

The Dutch had to battle through a difficult early period as Sri Lanka quicks Rajitha and Madushanka moved the ball through the air at BRSABVE Cricket Stadium.

After several close calls Sri Lanka eventually struck when Rajitha trapped Netherlands opener Vikramjit Singh (4) in front of his stumps, then backed it up when knocking down Max O'Dowd's (16) castle at the end of the Powerplay.

Netherlands were in deeper trouble when Colin Ackermann (29) nicked a wide ball to Kusal Mendis behind the stumps off the bowling of Rajitha with the total on 54.

Rajitha finished his opening spell of seven overs - the longest so far at this Cricket World Cup - with 3/27 to put Sri Lanka in command.

Madushanka returned to dismiss Bas de Leede (6) when Kusal Perera took a sharp catch in the deep, and soon had Teja Nidamanuru (9) stranded in front of his stumps.

Sri Lanka were out to kickstart their Cricket World Cup against Netherlands after opening their campaign with three consecutive losses.

Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha and Asitha Fernando were called into the Sri Lanka XI in place of Dunith Wellalage and Lahiru Kumara, while Netherlands were unchanged from the side that stunned South Africa.

The 1996 champions surged into the tournament in India with an unbeaten run through the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier which included two convincing wins over Netherlands.

Sri Lanka's two triumphs against Netherlands at the Qualifier stretched their unblemished run in ODIs between the teams to five wins from five, although this is the first time Sri Lanka bowled first in their 50-over clashes.

How to watch Netherlands v Sri Lanka

But Netherlands carried all the momentum into the clash after their rousing victory over South Africa left Sri Lanka as the only winless team left at the showpiece event.

**Netherlands:**Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (c, wk), Sybrand Engelbrecht, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka