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Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga’s maiden ODI six-fer helped Sri Lanka start off their World Cup 2023 Qualifier in style with a massive 175-run win over United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. UAE batters could not put up a fight in mammoth run chase of 356 as they got bundled out for 180 from 39 overs.
Ideal start
Earlier, UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem won the toss and opted to field first. Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne got Sri Lanka off to a steady start. They put on 95 runs on the board before 17-year-old Aayan Afzal Khan provided the breakthrough. Karunaratne scored 52 runs from 54 balls including seven fours and got out lbw. Nissanka could not convert his half-century either and got bowled by Basil Hameed. He scored 57 runs from 76 deliveries including five fours.
Quick runs in middle overs
Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama shared a 105-run partnership for the third wicket. Mendis got out in the 40th over. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 78 runs from 63 balls including 10 fours. Samarawickrama could not bat till the end either and got run out in the 45th over. He scored 73 runs from 64 balls including nine fours.
Electrifying finish
After skipper Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva returned to pavillion for single-digit scores, Charith Asalanka and Hasaranga wreaked havoc in slog overs. After the sixth wicket fell, 58 runs were scored from last 20 balls. Asalanka went berserk in the 48th and 49th over. In the final over, Hasaranga hit three fours while Asalanka could not score his half-century. Hasaranga's 12-ball 23 and Asalanka's 23-ball 48 helped Sri Lanka post 355/6 on the board. It is also the second-highest ODI total against UAE.
Hasaranga preys on UAE batters
In reply, UAE top order batters could not get their side to an ideal start. Rohan Mustafa got out early. Then Hasaranga spun a web around UAE as they struggled to score freely. UAE batters could not survive the spin trial. No UAE batter could score a half-century as they got all out. In his eight overs, Hasaranga bowled one maiden, conceded 24 runs and picked up six wickets. Hasaranga became the first bowler to take a six-fer against UAE in ODIs.
“I'm really happy. Took my 50th wicket today and this five-for makes me really happy. When we were batting, the wicket was really good. After that, the ball was gripping and that's the benefit we had. I always try to bowl wicket-to-wicket. In these wickets, if you do that, you have 50-50 chance of taking wickets,” he said in the post-match presentation after winning the ‘Player of the match’ award.
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