In a resounding display of dominance, Sri Lanka shattered Ireland’s aspirations of advancing to the Super Sixes of the CWC Qualifier. With a resounding victory of 133 runs, Sri Lanka not only clinched the win but also opened the pathway for Scotland and Oman to advance further in the tournament. Harare bore witness to this extraordinary turn of events, leaving Ireland to contemplate their missed opportunity.
In a remarkable showdown during the 15th match of the CWC Qualifier, the highly favored Sri Lanka showcased their dominance with an emphatic 133-run victory over Ireland. The outstanding performance was fueled by the superb century delivered by Dimuth Karunaratne, along with a phenomenal five-wicket haul achieved by Wanindu Hasaranga. This resounding triumph solidifies Sri Lanka’s status as one of the tournament favorites while leaving Ireland in the wake of their defeat.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka amassed an imposing total of 325 runs in 50 overs, led by the remarkable batting performances of Karunaratne and Samarawickrama. Although Sri Lanka faced an early setback, losing Nissanka and Mendis in quick succession, they recovered admirably, thanks to a phenomenal 168-run partnership between Karunaratne and Samarawickrama for the third wicket. Samarawickrama fell agonizingly short of his century, departing for a brilliant 82 off 86 balls, while Karunaratne continued his impressive form, crafting a magnificent century off just 103 deliveries, striking eight boundaries. Asalanka and de Silva also contributed valuable knocks, ensuring Sri Lanka crossed the 300-run mark. Adair stood out among the Irish bowlers with figures of 4/46, supported by McCarthy (3/56) and Delany (2/52).
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Chasing the mammoth target of 326, the Irish batting lineup struggled and could only muster 192 runs before being bowled out in 31 overs. Tector and Campher offered some resistance with their contributions of 33 and 39 respectively, but the rest of the team appeared clueless against the spin-backed Sri Lankan bowling attack. Hasaranga continued his outstanding form, securing another five-wicket haul, while Theekshana claimed two wickets.
CWC Qualifier
In another CWC Qualifier match, Scotland comprehensively outplayed Oman by a margin of 76 runs. Both teams had already qualified for the Super Sixes, courtesy of Sri Lanka’s victory. Scotland batted first and posted a competitive total of 320 runs, propelled by McMullen’s superb century. McMullen’s 136 off 121 balls, including 14 boundaries and three sixes, was the highlight of the innings. Berrington also made a valuable contribution with his 60 off 62 deliveries. Despite Bilal Khan’s five-wicket haul for Oman, Scotland managed to set a formidable target.
In response, the Oman batsmen struggled to cope with the pressure of the large target, eventually reaching 244/9 in their allotted overs. Naseem Khushi provided some resistance with a brisk 69 off 53 balls, featuring seven boundaries and three sixes, but his efforts were in vain as Oman fell well short of the victory mark. Greaves spearheaded Scotland’s bowling attack, claiming a five-wicket haul while conceding just 53 runs in his 10 overs. Scotland emerged victorious with a comprehensive 76-run margin.