Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, 22nd Match, Super Six at Bulawayo, CWC Qualifier, Jun 30 2023 - Match Result

What a day of cricket it has been! The players gave their all, and we witnessed a tense contest. Until we meet again, stay passionate, stay connected, and keep loving the game. This is Rvel Zahid, saying goodbye on behalf of my fellow commentator Madushka Balasuriya and our scorer for this game K Vairavan.

Sri Lanka were in massive trouble after a scorching new-ball burst from Logan van Beek. But Dhananjaya de Silva batted with patience, soaked in pressure, showed maturity and made sure Sri Lanka get past 200. A word for Bas de Leede, whose blazing spell cleared the tail quickly and then later his virtuoso innings of 41 kept the Netherlands in the hunt.

The spinners were on the money and didn't allow Sri Lanka to get off the hook. Theekshana and Hasaranga turned on the heat once again and showed their dexterity as the Netherlands started to run out of answers. Once Theekshana triggered the slide, Netherlands' resistance started to melt away even though the asking rate was never an issue. In hindsight, the Dutch team will be gutted with the result after doing everything right with the ball; the flurry of wickets they lost took the game away from them. Dilshan Madushanka made a mark straightaway with his lightning-fast face that hustled the opening batters; he flummoxed MP O'Dowd with a pitch-perfect yorker.

Edwards was middling the ball well and used the sweep shot to great effect but just didn't have enough support from the other end. Nevertheless, brilliant batting under tremendous pressure, he nearly got his team over the line.

Scott Edwards, Netherlands Captain: "Yes, definitely, we're disappointed. At the halfway mark, we thought they were under-par. We had a good start. Credit to them, they bowled well in that little patch there and we couldn't get over the line. We bowled well throughout the whole innings. Dhananjaya batted exceptionally well, he didn't give us many chances. We were disappointing with the bat. A run-out like that or a great piece of fielding can change the game. We bat deep...we should have gotten over the line. I look at the field and see what it is (on playing sweep shots against Hasaranga and Theekshana). They are quality bowlers, you got to find a way to put pressure on them. Going into the game, we knew we had guys who can bat. All the way, I was confident. There was a bit of reverse at the end there and a bit of spin. I back those boys. We will go back and have a look at what we could have done better today. But yeah, in this whole tournament, you never know what's gonna happen. We'll do what we can in the next two two games"

Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka Captain: "It was a tough game as the score wasn not enough. We still managed to cross the line. We played some rash shots. We batted first in the last few games, so we knew the conditions. In a tournament like this, you might be down, but I am still taking it. We'll have to play according to the conditions in the first ten overs. (On Dhananjaya de Silva's innings) It's a masterclass innings, he deserved a hundred. Not many people can do that from that position. We knew we could defend with our bowling. Scott was on strike, I wanted to keep Theekshana for the other batter, that's why I bowled. (On Kumara's injury scare) Still assessing, we'll get to know after the match. I want to win all the coming matches."

Dhananjaya de Silva, Player of the Match: "It was a tough match, they fought hard from the start, had a good start and I was lucky to have batted well. My idea was to bat through till the fifty overs. Theekshana batted really well; I was just telling him to not get out, even Wanindu batted well. I would like to bat in the middle-order and it was good to spend some time in the middle. The boys are doing well in all three departments"

Ishan R: "Sri Lankan fans can breath easily now"

Migara Kule: "Unless Scotland win all of their remaining matches, fair to say that SL are almost through given their healthier NRR"

Tahir: "Writing is on the wall for the full members after this fierce competition b/w the associates and low flying full members. SL gave lesson to full members in Asia cup specially Inda. I see one of the teams from this round in WC semi."

CharithD: "Spare a thought for Edwards.. batting with tail, scoring nearly run a ball with only 28 ou of 68 scored via boundaries.. it isan absolute gem of an inning "

ShahSafeer: "Thin line between becoming a hero and villian. Edwards should've kept strike more, particularly given there were so many overs left. They've lost a chance to win back to back big games, not just that West Indies are now all but eliminated from CWC2023! "

Tanay Dave: "This was the Dutch's game to lose. They lost 3 wickets by exposing their tailenders by taking single off the last ball. Amateur show by the dutch."

Matanat: "Never thought I'll be watching Netherlands v Sri Lanka over ashes….. a Pakistani cheering for Orange.

Rakib: "After 21 overs, Netherlands were 125/4 and Edwards 23 off 22, since then until the end of 35th over, Hasaranga and Theeksana bowled 10 overs and Edwards faced only 17 balls out of 60. Netherlands lost 5 wickets. Perspectives."

Abid Hussain Sh: "What these associate teams have brought into cricket is attitude of fighting till last minute..