Sports
Sri Lanka tick all boxes in World Cup Qualifier
It was the kind of game where they ticked all the boxes with a commanding win. The openers provided the team a solid start before the middle order consolidated and the lower middle order finished things off expertly in piling up a gigantic 355 for six in 50 overs.
While defending the huge total, the quicks bowled with fire while the spinners made life difficult for UAE with Wanindu Hasaranga picking up career-best figures of six for 24. UAE were shot out for 180 inside 40 overs.
Since being recalled to the ODI side, after being sidelined for more than two years, Dimuth Karunaratne has hit a purple patch and he smashed 52 off 54 balls. It was his third consecutive half-century in ODI cricket. Pathum Nissanka too joined the party posting 57 as the openers laid a solid platform adding 95 runs.
Vice-captain Kusal Mendis then upped the tempo smashing 78 off 63 balls with ten fours. Sadeera Samarawickrama completed an entertaining 73 in 64 balls with nine boundaries.
The stage had been set for Charith Asalanka to play some shots and he finished on 48 not out in just 23 balls with five fours and two sixes. The seventh wicket unbeaten stand between the two former Richmond players Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga was worth 58 runs.
Hasaranga finished on 23 off 12 balls with three fours.
There had been some concern about Sri Lanka’s inability to finish things off well, but there were no such headaches yesterday as they smashed 108 runs in the last ten overs with the final five overs proving to be even better with 64 runs scored in that period.
After Lahiru Kumara provided the early breakthrough with the new ball, Wanindu Hasaranga made his presence felt with his maiden five wicket haul as UAE batters struggled to tackle spin.
Hasaranga became only the second Sri Lankan leg-spinner to claim a five-wicket haul after Upul Chandana.
Sri Lanka’s next game is on Friday where they will take on Nepal also in Bulawayo.
