Sadeera Samarawickrema held Sri Lanka’s innings together until the 49th over with an imposing half century that brought his team their first win in the Cricket World Cup at Lucknow yesterday.
Chasing a modest target of 263 set by the Netherlands, Sri Lanka got off to a shaky start losing Kusal Perera for 5 and Kusal Mendis for 11. But Samarawickema joined Pathum Nissanka and the two repaired the early damage with a 52-run alliance to get the run chase off the ground.
Nissanka who is chasing an elusive century made a steady innings of 54 before edging a ball to be caught behind that left Sri Lanka in a spot of bother.
But Samarawickrema steadied ship and together with Charith Asalanka (44) dug in further for another partnership of 77 runs for the fourth wicket and with his partner’s dismissal with the total at 181 made a determined effort to hang around and give the team a much needed win after three defeats on the trot.
While wickets fell Samarawickrema stayed calm and finished the match with a top score of 91 not out in 107 balls that had just seven hits to the ropes ensuring that the Netherlands bowlers were kept at bay from making further inroads.
He did not do anything mighty and his innings meant so much to a struggling team.
Earlier the Netherlands thanks to a seventh wicket stand of 130 between Sybrand Engelbrecht (70) and Logan van Beek (59) salvaged their innings from 91 for six after fast bowler Kasun Rajitha wiped out the top three batters in an intense spell that prevented them from launching out on a bigger total.
Sri Lanka still unable to figure out what a winning combination is, left out fast bowler Lahiru Kumara and left arm spin bowler Dunith Wellalage replaced by Rajitha and Dushan Hemantha.
Sri Lanka will next meet England on Thursday.
