Sri Lanka qualify for the Cricket World Cup
Sri Lanka registered a 9-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the 4th match of the Super Six stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023 on Sunday at Bulawayo. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the coin toss and opted to bowl first.
After losing the toss, Zimbabwe bundled out for 165 runs in 32.2 overs. Sri Lankan bowlers kept things tight and put pressure on Zimbabwe’s batsmen from the word go. Sean Williams was the top scorer with 56 runs, and Sikandar Raza scored 31 runs. Both Raza and Williams added 68 runs for the fourth wicket. Other than that, no one was able to reach 20 runs. Ryan Burl scored 16 runs, while Brad Evans contributed 14 runs. For Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana claimed 4 wickets, and Dilshan Madushanka took 3 wickets.
In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the target successfully and scored 169 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in 33.1 overs. The Sri Lankan openers got off to a solid start and made a 103-run partnership for the first wicket. Dimuth Karunaratne was dismissed for 30 runs, and Kusal Mendis scored an unbeaten 25 runs. Pathum Nissanka was the top scorer with an unbeaten 101 runs.
With that win, Sri Lanka secured its place in the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
