The jovial Sri Lankan camp had a sigh of relief on Saturday evening after Sadeera Samarwickrama’s class act helped the team pick up their first points in the ODI World Cup 2023. They had it clear in their minds that another dull show would leave them with the least chance to redeem themselves. They had to step up, no matter who all were available to play the game against the Netherlands. And they did so.
Sri Lanka went the ‘Netherlands way’ to overcome the Dutchmen before leaving Lucknow with some good memories. The red-soil track at the Ekana Stadium demanded patience, grit and determination to sustain. The Netherlands acted accordingly to reach a respected total. Later, the Lankans applied the same formula to clinch their first victory in the ICC World Cup 2023.
As many as three fifty-plus partnerships sailed the Lankan ship safely to the shore with Samawickrama playing the anchor’s role. The first one saw him play second fiddle to Pathum Nissanka who scored a 52-ball 54 with the help of 9 boundaries. They added 52 runs to the third wicket, setting the stage for Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka to flourish.
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The duo added 77 runs for the 4th wicket which certainly shifted the momentum in Sri Lanka’s favour. Asalanka brought the fifty partnership with a six over Aryan Dutt’s head. Interestingly, the ball landed close to where the bowler’s family was seated at the venue.
But before the Lankan batter could add more boundaries to his credit, he was cleaned up by the Indian-origin Dutch spinner. Batting on 44, Asalanka went for a slog sweep against a flighted delivery that spun sharply after hitting the deck and crashed into the middle stump.
And guess, who was the happiest? Dutt’s father, clad in a blue shirt, who jumped off his seat to cheer for his son’s commendable show. The off-spinner registered figures of 3 for 44 in 10 overs and was the marquee pick among Dutch bowlers.
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Samarwickrama’s third and final camaraderie, of 76 runs, in Lanka’s successful chase was with Dhananjaya de Silva but the roles were different this time. The former led the charge while the latter backed him from the other end. Before they could seal the win, De Silva fell prey to Collin Ackermann in the 47th over. He looked to end the game with a six and thus shimmied down the track to clear the fence but instead, he was clean bowled.
Samarwickrama was stranded on 91 but that wasn’t the thought which passed through his mind when Dushan Hemantha hit Ackermann over mid-on to finish the chase with a boundary and 10 balls to spare. Instead, the top-scorer of the innings raised his hands in the air, turned back to his partner and they hugged each other to celebrate the moment.
The Lankan camp was indeed happy but yet silent as they knew it isn’t over yet. The win might have kept them alive in the race to the top four but they need to continue the momentum when they head to Bengaluru for their next mission, against the defending champions England, on October 26.
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