Sri Lanka, Netherlands look forward to World Cup after stiff Qualifier challenge

After a riveting three weeks of action, the ICC Men's 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier has come to a close with Sri Lanka and Netherlands booking their tickets for India later this year.

In the final between these sides on Sunday, Sri Lanka completed a 128-run victory to remain unbeaten in the tournament and carry some confidence to India.

“I want to take this momentum into the World Cup in India," Wanindu Hasaranga, who topped the wickets chart in the tournament, said.

"Our bowlers have played a lot of games in India in the last two years, and we know how the wickets behave. This qualifier tournament has helped us a lot.”

While Sri Lanka were unbeaten in the tournament, their batting, in particular, was tested a few times. Netherlands bowled them out for 233 in the final and earlier in the Super Six had also cleaned them up for 213.

“The first goal was to qualify for the World Cup, which we did and then the next goal was to come here and try and win the final as well, which thankfully we have done," Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood said after the final.

“There was obviously pressure coming into this tournament, expectation from the people at home to qualify for the World Cup, so I think we can go home happy.

"I think the confidence we have grown and shown in this tournament we can take into a World Cup with us."

The Dutch, meanwhile, have a special success story to carry forward from the Qualifier after they registered remarkable victories against West Indies and Scotland to reach the Men's Cricket World Cup for the first time since 2011.

“It is a high intensity tournament but I am extremely proud of the way the boys have played throughout," skipper Scott Edwards said.

"We played a lot of good cricket, so we are pretty excited for the next few months.

"Our bowlers have done the job, our batters have been really good throughout the tournament. Guys stepped up when they had to and that is why we are going to India."

Edwards identified the high-scoring thriller against West Indies, where Netherlands tied the game chasing 375 for a win and then won the Super Over in breathtaking fashion as the turning point for the team.

“That West Indies chase, we took a lot of confidence out of that. The next two or three games after that, even chasing 280 in 44 overs, we had the blueprint from that game. That was a little bit of a turning point for us in the tournament and we kept the ball rolling from there.

“It is massive for the guys, for our supporters back home, and for Dutch cricket in general. The opportunity to play in a 10-team World Cup, it is massive for us. We will lap it up and hopefully put in some good performances there.”