Sri Lanka Thrash UAE In ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Opener
Oman also ensured they started their Group B campaign with a win
Sri Lanka made a confident start in their bid to qualify for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with a 175-run victory over UAE in Bulawayo.
Four batters made half-centuries in the Lions’ total of 355 for six, which proved too many for UAE to chase as Wanindu Hasaranga (6/24) claimed his maiden ODI five-wicket haul in reply.
Oman also ensured they started their Group B campaign with a win, beating Ireland by five wickets at the Bulawayo Athletic Club.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s six-wicket haul inspired Sri Lanka to a comfortable victory over UAE, the spinner passing 50 career ODI wickets in the process.
The Lions were put in upon losing the toss and openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka made a steady start, taking the score to 58 without loss after the powerplay.
Karunaratne was first to bring up his half-century but he soon fell for 52 when trapped in front by Aayan Afzal Khan, while Nissanka (57) followed suit shortly after raising his bat as he chopped on to his stumps.
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama continued the momentum, the former passing 50 from 42 deliveries before hitting the accelerator with three consecutive boundaries in the 36th over.
Mendis fell for 78 and Samarawickrama was run out for a 64-ball 73 but Charith Asalanka was on hand to provide a late assault.
The first two sixes of the innings came amid a flurry of boundaries as Sri Lanka added 60 from the final four overs, Asalanka finishing unbeaten on 48 from 23 deliveries.
UAE made a confident start to the reply but lost Rohan Mustafa (12) with the score on 35 midway through the sixth over before Hasaranga seized control.
Muhammad Waseem was dropped on 20 but there was no escape when he was on 39, Asalanka taking a memorable flying catch on the deep square leg boundary.
Basil Hameed fell victim to a Hasaranga googly three balls later and Asif Khan (8) also fell lbw in the spinner’s next over, with UAE on 120 for five at the halfway stage.
Sri Lanka’s spinners continued to excel, Maheesh Theekshana opening his account for the Qualifier before Hasaranga returned to wrap up the innings in successive deliveries.
Scores in brief
Sri Lanka beat UAE at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo by 175 runs
Sri Lanka 355/6 in 50 overs (Kusal Mendis 78, Sadeera Samarawickrama 73; Ali Naseer 2/44, Basil Hameed 1/19)
UAE 180 in 39 overs (Muhammad Waseem 39, Vriitya Aravind 39; Wanindu Hasaranga 6/24)
Oman beat Ireland at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo by five wickets
Ireland 281/7 in 50 overs (George Dockrell 91*, Harry Tector 52; Bilal Khan 2/64, Fayyaz Butt 2/65)
Oman 285/5 in 48.1 overs (Kashyap Prajapati 72, Zeeshan Maqsood 59; Josh Little 2/47, Mark Adair 2/61) – ICC
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