SL vs ZIM, ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifier: The Sri Lankan Cricket Team have booked their ticket for the World Cup 2023 in India after winning their fourth consecutive game in the Super Six encounter of the ICC World Cup Qualifier 2023. The Island nation was brilliant with both bat and ball and, thus, scripted an easy 9-wicket win over Zimbabwe.
Batting first, Zimbabwe Cricket Team were bundled out for just 165 runs on the board. It was Dilshan Madushanka, who tore apart the top order as he claimed the wickets of the top three batters in Gumblie (0), Ervine (14), and Madhevere (1) to leave the team in all sorts of trouble at 30 for 3.
Theekshana then came to the party and broke the back of Zimbabwe’s middle order. Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza tried to steady the ship with a 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket but the former couldn’t go on to play a big knock.
Theekshana had his wicket in the 20th over and to add further misery, the man in form, Sean Williamson also departed one over later after playing a handy knock of 56 off 57 balls.
The likes of Ryan Burl (16) and Longwe (10) also became the victims of Theekshana as the Sri Lankan spinner ended up picking 4 wickets for 25 runs in 8.2 overs. Pathirana chipped in with two wickets, later in the innings as Zimbabwe were bundled out for just 165 runs on the board.
Sri Lanka Chased Down 166 Runs with Ease
Dilshan Mudushanka was also brilliant with his spell of 3 for 15 in 5 overs. Sri Lanka, in reply, chased down the total in 33.1 overs. Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne crushed Zimbabwe’s chances as they forged a 103-run partnership for the opening wicket.
The latter got out after scoring 30 off 56 balls but Nissanka stayed there right till the end and went on to play an unbeaten knock of 101 runs in 102 balls, including 14 fours. Kusal Mendis gave him valuable support as he chipped in with 25 runs in 42 balls.
SL vs ZIM, ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifiers Highlights:
Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 165 in 32.2 overs (Williams 56, Raza 31; Theekshana 4/25, Madushanka 3/15) lost to Sri Lanka 169/1 in 33.1 overs (Nissanka 101*, Karunaratne 30; Ngarava 1/35, Muzarabani 0/28) by 9 wickets
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