Opening batter Kusal Mendis slammed an unbeaten half-century, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana picked up important wickets as Sri Lanka cruised into the Super 12s of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 with a 16-run victo♐ry over the Netherlands on Thursday.
Batti🐓ng first, Mendis smoked 79 no💃t out off 44 and guided Sri Lanka to a competitive 162-6 on a sunny afternoon at Simonds Stadium in Geelong.
Later, mystery spinner Theekshana (2/32) and the talismanic Hasaranga (3/28) restricted the Netherlands to 146-9, despite an unbeaten 71 from opener Max O’Dowd. With the win, the Islanders have reached to the top of Group A ahead of the second-placed Netherlands while Namibia who stunned Shanaka & Co. in their first game of the tournament are at No. 3 in the points table.
Namibia are currently locking horns with the winless UAE and needs to bꦏeat them to climb ahead of Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in the standings.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Congratulations to Sri Lanka for qualifying to the super 12 under pressure. Let’s make sure we never have to go through this ag⭕ain boys !
— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07)
Great clutch performance by and special mention to and as ღmentioned created in a lab maybe. Onwards and upwards
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2)
Sri La🔜nkans are great fighters, I would be very disappointed if they would not qualify for the Supe🥂r12. Congrats 👏👏👏
— Aalia Rasheed (@aaliaaaliya)
Important and smart innings from in a crucial match. Use🌄d the short boundaries really🉐 well.👏🇱🇰
— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9)
as an opener the role stays the same chasing or setting is to firstly get the team o🍸ff to quick start and earn the big hitting at the back end. Pity b🌳ut good effort O’dowd 👏
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru)
Congratulations on qualifying for the Super 12's! That was one brave effort from Max O'Dowd 👏
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa)
Sri Lanka throughꦡ to the next round. Good fight from the 🦩Netherlands. Round 1 of this year’s WC has been very competitive. So far loved it
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq)
🟠Netherlands came close 146/9 but Sri Lanka was just too good.
Great innings by Max O'Dowd 71 not out!
Edwards 21 off 15
Cooper 16 off 19
Hoping that UAE are at their best.— Cricket🏏Netherlands (@KNCBcricket)
Sri💜 Lanka are through to the Super-12 stage! 👊
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
//twitter.com🐻/T20W💜orldCup/status/1583005600560152577
Sri Lanka have qualified for Super 12s.
One match to go in this group which is Namibia vs UAE. 🔯If Namibia win this match, they q𒁃ualify for Super 12s. If Namibia lose, they will be out and Netherlands will qualify.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)