In a gripping encounter at Daren Sammy, Sri Lanka emerged victorious by 83 runs against the Netherlands in T20 World Cup 2024. Sri Lanka batted first and piled up a mammoth 201 runs after Kusal Mendis (46/29), Charith Asalanka(46/21) and Angelo Mathews’ (30/15) blitz. In the second innings, it was an easy ride for Sri Lanka as they bundled out the Netherlands for 118 runs thanks to Nuwan Thusara and Wanindu Hasaranga’s (20/6) brilliance.
After winning the toss, Netherlands opted to bowl first, which initially put Sri Lanka under pressure, but contributions from Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, and Wanindu Hasaranga led Dutch bowlers to struggle to stop the run flow.
The match gained momentum when Kusal Mendis set the tone with a brisk 46 off 29 balls (five fours). However, Charith Asalanka’s 21-ball-46 made the real difference in their innings to become only the second team to post a 200-plus score in this year’s tournament.
Chasing 202 runs, Netherlands started the proceedings on an encouraging note. Michael Levitt (31/23) was aggressive from the start and scored 31 off 23 balls with a couple of boundaries and 3 sixes. But wickets kept tumbling for the Netherlands as Sri Lanka bowlers quickly bounced back and bundled them out for 118 in 16.4 overs.
The Dutch team began promisingly with a 45-run opening partnership in five overs. However, the innings unravelled once Nuwan Thushara dismissed Max O’Dowd (11/8).
After their deplorable defeat in the previous match against Bangladesh, the Sri Lankans have come a long way to raise their pride which was at stake after their early elimination. However, not qualifying for the next round will pinch them. On the other hand, the Netherlands will be proud of how they played throughout the campaign except for the last match.
Here are five moments that defined the result
Dhananjaya de Silva’s boundary hat trick
To leave the tournament with a big impression, the Sri Lankans had to pull every trick possible, and they did it in their last game. They started well but needed fire in middle overs. With Sri Lanka at 90 for 3 and 8 overs remaining, Dhananjaya de Silva took control during van Meekeren’s third over, hitting three consecutive boundaries in the wind, pushing Sri Lanka’s score beyond 100 runs. His push in the middle overs was one of the main reasons behind Sri Lanka’s big total.
Mathews and Hasaranga’s power partnership
Mathews and Hasaranga unleashed their power-hitting at the death to take the score past 200. Lanka needed a big late surge after a collective performance from Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis in the middle overs. Charith Asalanka started the onslaught in the death overs but Hasaranga’s little cameo did the most damage. He scored 20 runs off 6 balls to give Sri Lanka a massive advantage. 
Nuwan Thushara’s Redemption:
Nuwan Thushara looked in his supreme Lasith Malinga’s mode against the Netherlands. Sri Lanka’s left-arm seamer started his spell and then took down the Dutch’s tail. Thushara was the standout bowler, claiming three crucial wickets for 24 runs. His ability to swing the new ball effectively restricted the Dutch openers and provided Sri Lanka with early breakthroughs.
Sri Lanka Squeeze the throttles
Benching forwards Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana also chipped in with two wickets each, demonstrating Sri Lanka’s diverse bowling attack. Hasaranga, in particular, was under the pump coming into this game, but the Sri Lankan captain rose to the occasion. He picked up two crucial wickets and dismantled the Netherlands’ middle order. Pathirana and Hasaranga’s combined bowling effort proved decisive in restricting the Netherlands and securing Sri Lanka’s victory.
Despite not making it to the Super 8, the Sri Lankans signed off in style. This match was not just the second match to score over 200 in T20s but also overall SL’s second-highest T20 WC score. They would be disappointed with their batters’ poor show against South Africa and Bangladesh which played a big role in their downfall. The Netherlands can be proud of their performance, especially against South Africa. If they could’ve grabbed chances here and there, the Netherlands could’ve been in Super 8.
