Sri Lanka secured their first win of the 2023 World Cup as they defeated Netherlands by 6 wickets at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday.
Batting first, Netherlands were rocked early when Kasun Rajitha trapped left-hander Vikramjit Singh lbw for 4 in the fourth over. Rajitha struck twice more to remove Max O'Dowd and Colin Ackermann, leaving the Dutch in a spot of bother at 56/3.
In the middle overs, Dilshan Madushanka came to the party, getting the wicket of star all-rounder Bas de Leede before dismissing Teja Nidamanuru lbw with a superb inswinger. By the time Maheesh Theekshana knocked over Scott Edwards in the 22nd over, Netherlands were struggling at 91/6.
However, once Logan van Beek joined Sybrand Engelbrecht in the middle, it was all Netherlands. The pair batted for nearly 24 overs, putting on 130 runs for the seventh wicket, a World Cup record and the eighth-highest partnership for that wicket in all men's ODIs. Engelbrecht was finally dismissed for 70 while van Beek made 59. The Dutch scored 41 in the last five overs to post 262, a score that had seemed unattainable at 91/6.
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In reply, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera in the fifth over, as he sliced off-spinner Aryan Dutt to third man, before the in-form Kusal Mendis mistimed a slog sweep off the same bowler to leave the Lankans at 52/2.
A 52-run stand for the third wicket helped stabilise the innings, before Pathum Nissanka was dismissed for 54. Thereafter, Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama took Sri Lanka closer to victory before Samarawickrama finished the chase in the company of Dhananjaya de Silva and Dushan Hemantha, remaining not out on 91.
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Netherlands vs Sri Lanka Final Score
Netherlands - 262/10 (49.4 overs)
Sri Lanka - 263/5 (48.2 overs)
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Highlights Cricket World Cup 2023: Netherlands vs Sri Lanka
Who will win the 2023 World Cup?
India, England and South Africa are among the top five favourites for the 2023 World Cup title. The odds from Dafabet are as follows:
| Team | Odds (Dafabet) |
|---|---|
| India | 2.30 |
| England | 6.00 |
| South Africa | 6.00 |
| New Zealand | 6.50 |
| Australia | 8.50 |
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