ODI World Cup 2023 Twitter Reactions

‘After long ages’ – Fans react to Sri Lanka’s first win in ODI World Cup 2023 vs Netherlands

Sri Lanka beat Netherlands by five wickets with an over to spare to record their first win of the ODI World Cup 2023 tournament on Saturday in Lucknow

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Sarah Andrew
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Sri Lanka Cricket Team (Source-Twitter)

The Sri Lankan cricket team finally won their first game of the ODI World Cup 2023 tournament. The 1996 World Cup winners beat the Netherlands by 5 wickets to notch their first points of the campaign.

Coming into the game, Sri Lanka had lost their last game of the tournament to Australia the same venue. The Dutch on the other hand were still on the high of beating South Africa in their previous game by 43 runs.

Scott Edwards won the toss and chose to bat first. The Sri Lankans saw a few changes to their team. Lahiru Kumara was replaced by Kasun Rajitha while Dushan Hemantha came in for Wellalage.

Sri Lanka overcame early jitters to win by 5 wickets 

Chasing 263 to win, the Netherlands bowlers began well with the ball against the Sri Lankan batting unit. Aryan Dutt began well by first removing Kusal Perera for 5, this was followed by the wicket of Kusal Mendis for 11.

Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama then added 52 runs for the third wicket. The young opener scored yet another fifty during the ODI World Cup tournament before he was dismissed by Van Meekeren for 54.

It was then the turn of Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka to add 77 runs for the 4th wicket. This partnership swung the pendulum in Sri Lanka’s favour before Aryan Dutt bowled Asalanka for 44.

Dhananjaya De Silva came out with intent as he scored 30 runs and went on to add 76 runs for the 5th wicket. This was the final nail in the coffin for the Dutch team who had hoped to make a comeback to the game. Sadeera Samarawickrama was not out on 91 off 107 balls with 7 hits to the fence. 

Earlier Sri Lankan bowlers ran riot to reduce the Netherlands team to 91 for 6 in the 22nd over. Kasun Rajitha was the initial destroyer with the wickets of the Dutch top 3 batters. Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan Van Beek then got the Holland team back into the game.

The two batters added 130 runs for the 7th wicket with Engelbrecht top-scoring with 70 runs from 82 balls. Logan Van Beek was the next-highest scorer with 59 runs from 75 balls. Dilshan Madushanka was the lead wicket-taker for the Lankans with 4/49 while Kasun Rajitha ended with 4/50.

Here’s how the fans reacted –

 

Featured ODI World Cup 2023 Kusal Mendis