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SRI LANKA secured their place at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 after handing hosts Zimbabwe their first defeat in a Super Six encounter at Queens Sports Club yesterday.
Maheesh Theekshana took four for 25 to bowl out Zimbabwe for 165 inside 33 overs before a century from Pathum Nissanka powered Dasun Shanaka’s side to a nine-wicket win.
The Sri Lankans are now on eight points and have secured their berth at this year’s World Cup to be held in India, while Zimbabwe, on six points, will need nothing short of victory in their final match against qualification rivals Scotland tomorrow.
Shanaka was excited after sealing qualification.
“It’s a big achievement but still we know what we have done in the past in World Cups especially, we won the 1996 World Cup and were the 2011 runners-ups.
“We have been playing amazing cricket in the World Cup so it’s a much-needed thing for Sri Lanka to be up here in that big stage.
“Yes, there is pressure here but still the pressure begins on the big stage. So I think that World Cup ahead is the main focus and main target for us, we are waiting to deliver there as well,” said Shanaka.
Having been put into bat by Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe wobbled in Bulawayo, losing Joylord Gumbie for a five-ball duck before Wessly Madhevere departed for one to leave the Chevrons on eight for two.
Dilshan Madushanka took his third wicket of the morning to dismiss captain Craig Ervine, but in doing so brought the dangerous Sikandar Raza to the crease to join Sean Williams.
Raza played with the patience the situation required before Madushanka took a fine low catch to dismiss the all-rounder for 31 from 51 balls and end the 68-run partnership.
Williams could not add to his back-to-back centuries but did make 56 before he was bowled by Theekshana, who then combined with Matheesha Pathirana (2/18) to clean up the tail.
Zimbabwe’s final five batters added only 38 runs with three wickets in six balls drawing the hosts’ innings to a close after 32.2 overs. In response to 165, Sri Lanka were led by Nissanka who made a run-a-ball fifty in a century partnership with the more watchful Dimuth Karunaratne.
The opener had reason to be cautious having been dropped on nought by Brad Evans in just the third over of the game, before surviving a review for caught behind on 21.
The review inspired Nissanka to power his side forward as he took Evans for three fours in the next over, bringing up his half-century shortly after.
The hundred-partnership arrived in the 19th over as Karunaratne took an easy single to move to 29 before the left-hander was dismissed by Richard Ngarava to leave Sri Lanka at 104 for one. Nissanka continued to steer Sri Lanka to their total, ably supported by Kusal Mendis who selflessly turned down runs to allow Nissanka a shot at a hundred.
A wide from Wellington Masakadza brought the scores level with Nissanka three short of his second ODI ton before a four off the next ball brought up the milestone and the win, which will see Shanaka’s side head to India for the World Cup in October.
Zimbabwe captain Crain Ervine was distraught with the result.
“It was always going to be challenging batting first. But I just thought there were a couple of soft dismissals in that first 10 overs, but obviously losing three wickets put us on the backfoot early.
“Theekshana is a veteran for Sri Lanka and he’s done it on numerous occasions. I thought that partnership between Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza got us slowly back into the game. “And then he came on and basically just destroyed us and that middle order and unfortunately, we couldn’t recover from those collapses in the middle,” said Ervine. — ICC Cricket/Sports Reporter.
Online Reporter