The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023 witnessed a thrilling double-header take place on Tuesday (June 27). Sri Lanka secured a convincing 82-run victory over Scotland in the 19th match of the tournament, whereas Ireland thrashed UAE in the 20th fixture.
Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka’s innings started on a shaky note as they lost early wickets, but Pathum Nissanka held the innings together with a resilient knock of 75 runs off 85 deliveries. The middle order also contributed significantly to the team’s total, with Charith Asalanka playing a crucial innings of 63 runs in 65 balls. Sadeera Samarawickrama made a valuable contribution of 26 runs as well.
Scotland’s bowling effort was led by Chris Greaves, who picked up four wickets and gave away just 32 runs. Mark Watt chipped in with three wickets for the Scottish side. However, despite the disciplined bowling performance from Scotland, Sri Lanka managed to post a competitive total of 245 runs before being bowled out in 49.3 overs.
In response, Scotland faced an uphill battle chasing the target. They struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals. Christopher McBride top-scored with 29 runs off 38 balls, including two fours and one six. Meanwhile, Greaves contributed with a quickfire knock of 56 runs off 41 deliveries.
The Sri Lankan bowlers dominated the proceedings, with Maheesh Theekshana being the standout performer. He claimed three wickets for 41 runs in his quota of ten overs. Wanindu Hasaranga and Kasun Rajitha also made significant contributions, with two wickets each. Scotland’s innings eventually crumbled, and they were bowled out for 163 runs in just 29 overs, falling short of the target by 82 runs.
On the other hand, the match between Ireland and the UAE saw the latter winning the toss and opting to field first. However, UAE’s backfired as the Irish batters showcased their prowess with the bat, posting a formidable total of 349 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
The highlight of Ireland’s innings was the exceptional batting performance by Paul Stirling., who played a magnificent knock of 162 runs off just 134 deliveries. Stirling’s innings included fifteen fours and eight sixes. Andy Balbirnie and Harry Tector also made valuable contributions, with scores of 66 and 57, respectively. The Irish batters displayed an aggressive approach throughout the innings, finding the boundaries regularly.
In reply, the UAE struggled to build partnerships and chase down the massive target set by Ireland. They were eventually bowled out for 211 runs in 39 overs, falling short by a significant margin. Waseem Muhammad top-scored for the UAE with a brisk 45 runs off 32 deliveries, while Basil Hameed contributed with a patient 39. But the lack of substantial partnerships hindered their progress. Sanchit Sharma fought valiantly with a well-made 44, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Ireland’s dominance.
The Irish bowlers put up an impressive performance, with Josh Little and Andy McBrine claiming two wickets each. George Dockrell and Curtis Campher also chipped in with crucial two wickets apiece and helped Ireland secure a victory over UAE by a comprehensive margin of 138 runs.
