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A CONVINCING win for Sri Lanka ended Ireland’s hopes of reaching the Super Six at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023, while Scotland made it three in a row by beating Oman.
Ireland needed to beat Sri Lanka to have any chance of reaching the next stage, but fell to a 133-run loss as Dimuth Karunaratne added a century to the fifties he had made in the first two games.
That result also clinched a place in the Super Six for Scotland and Oman, who were in action at the same time in Group B.
Scotland ran out 76-run winners in that one, with Brandon McMullen’s brilliant century setting them up for victory.
McMullen began this tournament with a first five-wicket haul, and he now has a maiden ODI hundred after firing Scotland to a crucial win over Oman.
Sri Lanka also have a perfect three from three in Group B, and it is the same men who have stepped up time and again.
Dimuth Karunaratne, who enjoyed knocks of 52 and 61 not out in wins over the UAE and Oman, produced his best performance yet with 103 as Sri Lanka made 325 after being put in yesterday.
In a tournament where big chases have come thick and fast, Wanindu Hasaranga again made the difference with the ball, collecting a third five-wicket haul in as many matches in the 133-run win.
Barry McCarthy had earlier taken two wickets in as many balls in the ninth over as Ireland restricted Sri Lanka to 48 for two, but that brought Sadeera Samarawickrama (82) to the crease to join Karunaratne.
The duo proceeded to add 168 for the third wicket to set the platform for a huge score. Samarawickrama eventually fell off the bowling of Gareth Delany, failing to take advantage of being put down moments earlier.
Karunaratne followed in the 38th over, bowled by Mark Adair after bringing up his maiden ODI hundred.
Sri Lanka kept the pressure on though, Charith Asalanka (38) and Dhananjaya de Silva (42 not out) providing some valuable runs.
However, Adair (4/46) chipped in with three further wickets as Sri Lanka stumbled down the stretch, leaving Ireland requiring 326 to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Any Irish momentum from the end of the innings quickly dissipated. The chase never really got going, Paul Stirling caught behind off Lahiru Kumara in the fourth over. Kasun Rajitha then took the other opener, Andy McBrine (17) before Hasaranga came up with the crucial wicket of skipper Andy Balbirnie (12).
The wickets kept tumbling, Harry Tector becoming Hasaranga’s second victim when he was trapped in front for 33.
Curtis Campher’s counter-attacking 39 had Ireland within striking distance of the asking rate but he was caught behind off Maheesh Theekshana (2/29) to leave his side 116 for six.
Hasaranga then added two more in the space of three balls before completing his five-wicket haul with the final ball of his tenth over, ending a 30-run stand for the tenth wicket by taking Josh Little (20) with a return catch.
That made Hasaranga just the second bowler in men’s ODI history to record three successive five-wicket hauls – an impressive return considering he had never previously achieved the feat before this tournament.
Scores in summary:
Sri Lanka beat Ireland at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo by 133 runs
Sri Lanka 325 all out in 49.5 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 103, Sadeera Samarawickrama 82; Mark Adair 4/46, Barry McCarthy 3/56)
Ireland 192 all out in 31 overs (Curtis Campher 39, Harry Tector 33; Wanindu Hasaranga 5/79; Maheesh Theekshana 2-29)
Scotland beat Oman at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo by 111 runs
Scotland 320 all out in 50 overs (Brandon McMullen 136, Richie Berrington 60; Bilal Khan 5/55, Fayyaz Butt 2/68)
Oman 244 for nine in 50 overs (Naseem Khushi 69, Shoaib Khan 36; Chris Greaves 5/53, Michael Leask 1/10)
Online Reporter