Preview: Winner takes all as Sri Lanka and Netherlands prepare for nervy Group A decider
Netherlands v Sri Lanka Preview | Match 9 | ICC Men’s T20WC 2022
Coming into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 it had been Sri Lanka who had been making much of the noise on the international stage, winning the Asia Cup and beating some high-calibre opponents in the process.
But Dasun Shanaka and his side are now one loss away from World Cup elimination, and know they must almost certainly beat Group A leaders Netherlands on Thursday to make it to the Super 12.
Sri Lanka’s opening-match defeat to Namibia is what has left them in such a perilous position, while Netherlands’ win over the same African opponents has left the Dutch sitting pretty at the top of the group on four points.
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However, progression is still far from certain for the Netherlands. In fact, a loss may well be enough to send them out of the tournament despite those two wins.
It all comes down to net run rate, and that is where the Netherlands are in trouble. Sri Lanka’s crushing win over UAE means that they will go above the Dutch on NRR should they win this game. And then it would all come down to Namibia v UAE in the Group A finale later on Thursday. A win for Namibia in that match would see them knock the Netherlands out in that scenario, as they already have a superior NRR.
Should Netherlands win this game then Sri Lanka will be hoping for an enormous favour from UAE, who would need to beat Namibia and very heavily to overturn the NRR differential in Sri Lanka’s favour. Such a mathematical outcome is not impossible but highly improbable.
Sri Lanka’s spin twins of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana ripped UAE to pieces in the last match, and will have an even more significant role to play this time given some troubling injury news elsewhere in the camp.
Star seamer Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a torn calf, while Pramod Madushan – who also started the game against UAE – is likely to miss this match due to a hamstring problem.
And in a further blow to Sri Lanka’s plans, batter Danushka Gunathilaka has also been ruled out of the tournament.
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Bas de Leede
Sri Lanka are vulnerable and young Dutch all-rounder Bas de Leede has the class with bat and ball to take advantage.
The 22-year-old was outstanding against Namibia, picking up 2/18 from three tidy overs before helping his side cruise home with a calm run-a-ball 30* in the chase. Even when wickets tumbled around him, De Leede kept his composure, a sign of excellent temperament to go with his undoubted ability.
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Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards (c &wk), Roelof van der Merwe, Tim Pringle, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klassen, Paul van Meekeren
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana
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Captaincy Pick:
Wanindu Hasaranga
Known for his flamboyant all-round skills, Wanindu Hasaranga is a sought-after T20 player. In merely 46 matches he has grabbed 75 T20I wickets for Sri Lanka at an economy of 6.61 and he has the ability to go big with the bat too. The Player of the Tournament in Asia Cup 2022, Hasaranga hasn’t fired with the willow yet at this tournament, but his astonishing four-over returns of 3 for 8 against UAE was a reminder of his class.
Must-Have Pick:
Bhanuka Rajapaksa
The powerful batter had a prolific run in Asia Cup 2022 as he top-scored for Sri Lanka with 191 runs in six innings. But his stuttering 20 runs off 21 balls summed up a lacklustre team showing against Namibia, and he was the first victim of a brilliant hat-trick against UAE. Rajapaksa will be keen to make an impression on the tournament after such a subdued start.
Differential Pick:
Max O’Dowd
The Netherlands opener Max O’Dowd is a vital cog in the Dutch machine. When he scores big, even if it’s not at a decent lick, then his team are almost always in the game. His run-a-ball 35 set the platform for the chase in the win over Namibia, but isn’t the sort of explosive knock he’s known for. Sri Lanka should be wary.