Sri Lanka made a strong start to their ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifier campaign with an emphatic 175-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Queen Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday (June 19). The standout performer of the match was leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who delivered a remarkable bowling performance to dismantle the UAE batting lineup.
Hasaranga showcased his exceptional skills and talent by taking six wickets for 24 runs in his eight overs. He consistently troubled the UAE batters and played a pivotal role in restricting them to 180.
Although UAE made a decent start, reaching 82/1 after 16 overs while chasing a target of 356, Hasaranga’s intervention turned the game in Sri Lanka’s favour. He dismissed the dangerous Muhammad Waseem and then swiftly removed Basil Hameed and Asif Khan. In his second spell, Hasaranga further demonstrated his prowess by getting rid of Rameez Shahzad, Ayan Afzal Khan, and Muhammed Jawadullah.
Hasaranga’s variations, particularly his googly, proved to be highly effective against the UAE batters, who struggled to read his deliveries. Five out of his six wickets were either bowled or given out LBW, highlighting the difficulties faced by the opposition.
The impact of Hasaranga’s bowling performance was such that UAE went from a promising position of 82/1 to a dismal total of 180/10. His experience, guile, and ability to deceive the batters proved too much for the UAE lineup to handle.
With his outstanding display, Hasaranga not only registered his best-ever performance in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) but also played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s comprehensive victory.
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Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a strong start after being put in to bat first. Opening batters, Dimuth Karunaratne (52 off 54) and Pathum Nissanka (57 off 76), provided a solid foundation by putting up 95 runs for the first wicket in just 17 overs.
Sri Lanka continued to build on this strong start, with all of their top four batters reaching half-centuries. Kusal Mendis (78 off 63) was the top scorer for his side. Sadeera Samarawickrama ( 73 off 64) also played a fine knock, providing valuable support to the team’s total.
In the latter stages of the innings, Charith Asalanka played a crucial cameo, smashing 48 runs off just 23 balls. His aggressive batting included two sixes and five fours, helping Sri Lanka reach a commanding total of 355/6.
