Sri Lanka deliver big win over Dutch as they bow out of T20 World Cup
Opener Kusal Mendis and middle-order batsman Charith Asalanka posted identical scores of 46 to set the pace for the 2014 champions in a total of 201 for six, the first 200-plus total ever posted at this ground in a T20 International.
With their hopes of Super Eight qualification rapidly disappearing as Bangladesh closed in on victory in a low-scoring encounter unfolding at the same time in St Vincent, the Dutch faded after a bright started in being dismissed for 118 off 16.4 overs in reply.
Captain Scott Edwards and opener Michael Levitt contributed joint-top scores of 31 but Sri Lanka’s varied and talented attack was too good for the Netherlands line-up, pacer Nuwan Thushara leading the way with three for 24.
Mendis’ effort came off 29 balls (five fours) while Asalanka, following in his wake, occupied eight balls fewer courtesy of one four and five sixes, most of them boosted by a strong crosswind at the venue on the northern tip of the island.
Logan van Beek, grandson of the late former West Indies and New Zealand wicketkeeper/batsman Simpson “Sammy” Guillen, was the leading wicket-taker with victims off successive balls in his third over although his four overs cost 45 runs.
An opening stand of 45 inside five overs set the Netherlands on course. However from the moment slingy seamer Nuwan Thushara removed Max O’Dowd the innings went into a steady decline.
They were already labouring at 69 for four after nine overs when the news filtered through of Bangladesh’s 21-run victory over the Nepalase to claim the final spot in the next round of the competition. From that point it was just a matter of Sri Lanka closing out the result against the deflated Dutch.