Sri Lanka eliminates Ireland from Super Six contention

SRI LANKA added to Ireland’s misery in the on-going 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers after thumping them by 133 runs at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday.

The Lankans’ victory meant that Ireland’s slim hopes of making it to the Super Six stage of the tournament have gone up in smoke with three defeats from three matches.

After being sent in to bat first, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 325 run in 49,5 overs before they went on to restrict Ireland to 192 runs all out in 31 overs.

Yesterday’s victory meant Sri Lanka have cemented their place in the Super Six stage with one game left to go in the groups.

Veteran, Dimuth Karunaratne, who has been looking good with the bat finally managed to get a big one, top scoring for the Asian champions with 103 runs from as many deliveries.

Young sensation Sadeera Samarawarickrama fell 18 runs short off his ton on 82 runs from 86 balls. Dhananjaya de Silva finished unbeaten on 42 runs having faced 35 deliveries as Sri Lanka put up a good score on the board in the match’s first innings.

With ball in hand, Mark Adair led the Irish bowling attack, taking four wickets for 46 runs in 9,5 overs while Barry McCarthy and Gareth Delany took three and two scalps respectively for Ireland.

In their defence, it was Wanindu Hasaranga who once again proved why he is one of the best bowlers in the world, taking his second five wicket haul in three matches.

He finished with figures of 5/79 in 10 overs while Maheesh Theekshana took two wickets, conceding 29 runs in his six-over spell.
Ireland batters failed to have any good partnerships going, losing their first wicket in just the fourth

over. Curtis Campher top scored with 39 runs from 31 balls while Harry Tector chipped in with 33 runs from 35 deliveries. George Dockrell finished unbeaten on 26 runs having faced 34 balls.

Coming into the event as one of the pre-tournament group favourites, Ireland will be disappointed with how their tournament went as they will go back without anything. Karunaratne was named player of the match.

Meanwhile, at Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC), Scotland also secured their place in the Super Six with a 76 runs win over Oman. This was Scotland’s third victory in a row. Batting first, Scotland scored a huge 320 runs all out in 50 overs before going on to restrict their opponents to 244/9 in 50 overs.

Brandon McMullen starred with the bat for Scotland, top scoring with 136 runs from 121 deliveries while the skipper, Richie Berrington chipped in with a well batted 60 runs from 62 deliveries. Bilal Khan was the pick of the Oman bowlers, taking five wickets for 55 runs in 10 overs.

There was another fifer in the second innings of the match, coming from Chris Greaves who almost had similar figures as Khan. Greaves, in 10 overs, took five scalps and conceded 53 runs. At the back end of Oman’s batting order, Naseem Khushi put up a gallant fight with the bat, top scoring with 69 runs from 53 runs.

Oman’s defeat however, has no effect on their Super Six hopes as they have made it through with four points, joining Scotland and Sri Lanka. The last group matches will take place tomorrow and Sri Lanka will be up against Scotland at Queens Sports Club while Ireland will face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at BAC. Both Ireland and UAE are winless and cannot progress to the Super Six. – @brandon_malvin