A Sports
HARARE: Dhananjaya de Silva played a fighting 93-run knock before bowlers held their nerves calm to edge the spirited Netherlands by 21 runs to stay unbeaten in the Cricket World Cup (CWC) Qualifier.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka found themselves in a state of bother when the former champions lost half of their batters with a meagre 67 runs on the scoreboard.
All-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva then recovered Sri Lanka to a respectable total of 213 with a gutsy knock and batted for almost 39 overs.
He stood his ground firm and put on valuable partnerships with Wanindu Hasaranga (20) and Maheesh Theekshana (28), who made significant contributions to Sri Lanka’s total.
Dhananjaya de Silva batted with utter domination and was looking solid to notch up his maiden ODI century but Aryan Dutt spoiled his plans by getting rid of him in the 47th over.
He fell just seven short of his maiden ODI ton and top-scored for Sri Lanka with a gritty 93 off 111 deliveries, laced up with eight boundaries and two sixes.
Logan van Beek and Bas de Leede led the bowling attack for Sri Lanka with three scalps each while Saqib Zulfiqar had two to his name.
Chasing a modest total, the Netherlands fell 21 runs short of claiming another famous victory despite half-centuries by skipper Scott Edwards and Wesley Barresi.
The Dutch, after a horrible start to their run chase, soon recovered at the back of a sensible third-wicket partnership between Barresi and Max O’Dowd.
The pair added 77 runs in the run chase before Barresi and Teja Nidamanuru (0) perished in quick successions, forcing the Netherlands to slip to 91/4.
Barresi scored a brisk 52 off 50 deliveries with the help of six boundaries and a six.
Following twin dismissals, Bas de Leede received subtle support at the other end in the form of his skipper Scott Edwards.
The duo kept Netherlands’ pursuit alive with a crucial fifth-wicket stand which saw them adding 36 runs to the total until Maheesh Theekshana castled de Leede, who scored 41 off 53 balls.
The Netherlands, having lost half of their side for a mere 127 runs while chasing 214, had their hopes aligned with skipper Edwards standing tall and ticking the scoreboard while batting with the tail.
Dutch captain Edwards fought valiantly with his unbeaten knock but ran out of partners when his Sri Lankan counterpart Dasun Shanaka castled Aryan Dutt to claim a narrow victory.
Edwards scored 67 off 68 deliveries, smashing four boundaries and two sixes but ended up on the losing side.
Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with 3/31, followed by Wanindu Hasaranga who returned with 2/53 in his 10 overs.
Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka and Shanaka, however, struck out a batter apiece.