The second day of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023 witnessed two thrilling encounters take place, with Sri Lanka locking horns with UAE in Group A and Oman squaring off against Ireland in Group B.
In the match between Sri Lanka and UAE at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, the UAE won the toss and elected to bowl first with an aim to restrict Sri Lanka from scoring big. However, Sri Lanka’s innings got off to a solid start. Kusal Mendis and Samarawickrama displayed an excellent batting performance for them and scored brilliant fifties. Mendis hammered a blistering 78 off just 63 deliveries, while Samarawickrama contributed a well-made 73 off 64 balls. Their partnership provided a solid foundation for Sri Lanka’s innings, and they ultimately finished at a mammoth total of 355/6 in their allotted 50 overs.
On the other hand, Ali Naseer was the most successful bowler for the UAE, picking up two wickets for 44 runs.
Chasing a daunting target, the UAE faced early setbacks as Sri Lanka’s bowlers exerted pressure on them from the start. The UAE batters struggled to build partnerships and maintain a steady run rate. Although Muhammad Waseem and Vriitya Aravind scored 39 runs each for UAE, their efforts went in vain, and they eventually lost the contest by a comprehensive margin of 175 runs.
Wanindu Hasaranga emerged as the star performer with the ball for Sri Lanka, wreaking havoc on the UAE batting lineup. He recorded sensational figures of six wickets for just 24 runs in his ten overs, dismantling the opposition with his exceptional leg-spin bowling. His spell proved to be a decisive factor in the match. Hasaranga was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his sensational performance.
Speaking of the Group B match between Oman and Ireland. Asked to bat first, Ireland began their innings steadily, with George Dockrell and Harry Tector leading the charge. Dockrell played a brilliant knock, scoring 91 runs off 89 deliveries, while Tector contributed a patient 52 off 82 balls. Their partnership laid the foundation for Ireland’s total of 281/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Bilal Khan and Fayyaz Butt were the standout bowlers for Oman, picking up two wickets each.
In reply, Oman showed resilience and determination right from the start. Kashyap Prajapati played a crucial innings, scoring 72 runs off 74 balls, while Aqib Ilyas and Zeeshan Maqsood also made significant contributions with scores of 52 and 59, respectively. The middle order of Oman ensured a steady flow of runs, and they successfully chased down the target with 11 balls to spare, finishing on 285/5 in 48.1 overs. Joshua Little and Mark Adair claimed two wickets apiece for Ireland.
Maqsood’s impactful knock of 59 runs off 67 balls earned him the well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award.
