In a dominant display, an already-eliminated Sri Lankan team defeated the Netherlands by 83 runs in the final Group D match of the T20 World Cup at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Sunday.
Sri Lanka set a formidable target, scoring 201 for six, the first 200-plus total ever posted at this ground in a T20 International. Opener Kusal Mendis and middle-order batsman Charith Asalanka both contributed significantly with identical scores of 46. Mendis’ 46 came off 29 balls, featuring five fours, while Asalanka’s innings, supported by a strong crosswind, included one four and five sixes in 21 balls.
Despite the Netherlands starting brightly with an opening stand of 45 inside five overs, their chase faltered quickly. They were bowled out for 118 in 16.4 overs, with Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara taking three wickets for 24 runs. Captain Scott Edwards and opener Michael Levitt were the top scorers for the Netherlands, each with 31 runs.
Logan van Beek was the leading wicket-taker for the Netherlands, claiming two wickets in his third over, but at a cost of 45 runs across his four overs. The Dutch innings declined steadily after the early loss of Max O'Dowd, with Thushara’s dismissal of O’Dowd marking the beginning of the end.
Adding to their woes, as the Netherlands’ hopes of advancing to the Super Eight rapidly diminished, news of Bangladesh's 21-run victory over Nepal in St Vincent sealed their fate. From then on, Sri Lanka only needed to close out the game against the dispirited Dutch team.
