In a match that had no bearing on the Super Eight qualification, Sri Lanka put on a show for the fans, defeating the Netherlands by a whopping 83 runs at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia.
The Sri Lankan innings got off to a shaky start, losing opener Pathum Nissanka without scoring in the second ball of the match. However, Kusal Mendis (46 off 29 balls) and Charith Asalanka (46 off 21 balls) steadied the ship with a flurry of boundaries. The middle order, led by Dhananjaya de Silva (34 off 26 balls) and Angelo Mathews (30 off 15 balls), then took charge, propelling Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 201/6 in their 20 overs.
In reply, the Netherlands got off to a flying start, with openers Michael Levitt (31 off 23 balls) and Max O'Dowd (11 off 12 balls) adding 45 runs in just 4.2 overs. However, once Levitt was stumped off the bowling of Maheesh Theekshana, the Dutch side lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually folding for 118 in 16.4 overs.
The Sri Lankan bowlers were on fire, with Nuwan Thushara (3/24) and Matheesha Pathirana (2/12) being the pick of the bowlers. The victory was a consolation for Sri Lanka, who had already been eliminated from the tournament, but it was a fitting end to their campaign.
The match was a one-sided affair, but it was a good opportunity for the Sri Lankan players to showcase their skills and end their campaign on a high note. The Netherlands, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance, especially after a promising start to their innings.
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