163/10 (29.0)
CR : 5.62
245/10 (49.3)
CR : 4.95
Sri Lanka won by 82 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Maheesh Theekshana
3/4116(21)
A Evans 0(0)
Run Out (K Mendis/W Hasaranga)
4s/6s
0/0
SR
0.00
SL won by 82 runs
SL won by 82 runs
6:41 PM IST, 3:11 PM Local time: Sri Lanka wrap up the game early and beat Scotland by 82 runs moving into the super six without losing a single game in the league stage of the ICC Cricket World cup Qualifier here at Bulawayo.
A brilliant team effort from the Scottish fielders and bowlers put Sri Lanka in a spot of bother dismissing them for 245 in 49.3 overs after winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Pathum Nissanka (75) and Charith Asalanka (63) hit half centuries as Chris Greaves (4/32) and Mark Watt (3/52) picked the bulk of wickets in the first innings.
Lahiru Kumara prompted Sri Lanka to a perfect start in the second innings removing the opener Matthew Cross in the second over of the innings. The top and middle order crumbled against the Sri Lankan attack.
Maheesh Theekshana (3/41) was the pick of the bowlers with Wanindu Hasaranga (2/42) bowling 6 overs after an injury scare before the match. Dasun Shanaka bowled a wicket maiden with Kasun Rajitha and Kumara, the fast bowlers sharing 2 wickets each. The last 2 wickets were both run out.
There were some positives for Scotland as Chris Greaves after bowling a tremendous spell hit his second ODI fifty scoring 56 in 41 balls and remained unbeaten adding 55 runs with Chris Sole for the ninth wicket. Scotland would have easily chased the target if they had wickets in hand but the Sri Lankan bowling attack proved too good for them.
A brilliant team effort from the Scottish fielders and bowlers put Sri Lanka in a spot of bother dismissing them for 245 in 49.3 overs after winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Pathum Nissanka (75) and Charith Asalanka (63) hit half centuries as Chris Greaves (4/32) and Mark Watt (3/52) picked the bulk of wickets in the first innings.
Lahiru Kumara prompted Sri Lanka to a perfect start in the second innings removing the opener Matthew Cross in the second over of the innings. The top and middle order crumbled against the Sri Lankan attack.
Maheesh Theekshana (3/41) was the pick of the bowlers with Wanindu Hasaranga (2/42) bowling 6 overs after an injury scare before the match. Dasun Shanaka bowled a wicket maiden with Kasun Rajitha and Kumara, the fast bowlers sharing 2 wickets each. The last 2 wickets were both run out.
There were some positives for Scotland as Chris Greaves after bowling a tremendous spell hit his second ODI fifty scoring 56 in 41 balls and remained unbeaten adding 55 runs with Chris Sole for the ninth wicket. Scotland would have easily chased the target if they had wickets in hand but the Sri Lankan bowling attack proved too good for them.
Maheesh Theekshana is the player of the match.
Maheesh Theekshana (Player of the Match): "I knew the conditions were sloppy so we had the plan to bowl wicket to wicket. We knew we can bowl them out with the variations we have. They had really good openers as well so I think the plan was to bowl wicket to wicket and that's how I got all the wickets. I guess bowling with the new ball has been my strength. We knew we had 10 overs to bat and we were looking to add some 20-30 runs to the tally."
Richie Berrington (Scotland Captain): "As we said in the start, we were looking to utilize any movement from the soil. Managed to get couple of wickets early on. I thought it was a fantastic effort from the bowlers to eventually bowl them out for under 250.
We had to be really smart with the fields, keep chopping and changing when we could and really tried to attack the stumps but the wicket was probably on the slower side today.
[On Greaves bowling late] I think it was just the situation of the day. He's been in the game when he has come earlier and has success. We've got a plenty of bowling options to which we can turn to so I guess its just about the conditions and bring the guy who can be best for the conditions.
Great to see the boys show the faith all the way through the innings, obviously disappointing to fall so many runs short but we've just seen the value of having wickets in hand. Wasn't ideal with the bat but there are few things we can take away from this game. We will come back strong for the next game."
We had to be really smart with the fields, keep chopping and changing when we could and really tried to attack the stumps but the wicket was probably on the slower side today.
[On Greaves bowling late] I think it was just the situation of the day. He's been in the game when he has come earlier and has success. We've got a plenty of bowling options to which we can turn to so I guess its just about the conditions and bring the guy who can be best for the conditions.
Great to see the boys show the faith all the way through the innings, obviously disappointing to fall so many runs short but we've just seen the value of having wickets in hand. Wasn't ideal with the bat but there are few things we can take away from this game. We will come back strong for the next game."
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka Captain): "I think today's win was important to carry all the points in the next stage. These two points especially were really crucial. Yeah, the wicket was not easy to bat as compared to the other wickets. Credit to Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka. They scored really well and collapses happen sometimes.
We are playing positive cricket and that is what is important. We will look to play positive cricket in the upcoming matches as well. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana always do the job for us and that's where our team combination goes well. Dhananjaya de Silva and myself are there for the fifth bowling option. We have some other players in the bench as well as Chameera is injured."
We are playing positive cricket and that is what is important. We will look to play positive cricket in the upcoming matches as well. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana always do the job for us and that's where our team combination goes well. Dhananjaya de Silva and myself are there for the fifth bowling option. We have some other players in the bench as well as Chameera is injured."
That's it from a dominating performance from Sri Lanka in their final group match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Megh Mandaliya and scorers Chandan Kumar Singh & Vishnu Verma. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world.