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In a gripping contest at the ODI World Cup 2023, Sri Lanka emerged victorious against the Netherlands, winning by 5 wickets with 10 balls to spare. This victory marked Sri Lanka’s first win of the tournament, making them the last team to secure a victory. The World Cup has been a thrilling roller-coaster ride so far, with the Netherlands causing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history by defeating South Africa in their previous match.
The Netherlands batted first and found themselves in a precarious position at 91-6, seemingly headed for a disastrous total. However, to everyone’s surprise, they mounted a remarkable recovery and posted a competitive target of 262 runs in their allotted 50 overs. Their resilience put them in a promising position in the match.
Sri Lanka, chasing the target, began strongly with their opener, Pathum Nissanka, who scored a brisk 54 off 52 balls before departing in the 16th over. His early contribution provided Sri Lanka with a solid foundation. However, the star of the show was middle-order batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama, who played a crucial role in steering Sri Lanka to victory.
Sadeera Samarawickrama’s spectacular innings of 91* runs off 107 balls was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s chase. He displayed exceptional composure and a calculated approach to lead his team across the finish line. His unwavering determination and skill helped Sri Lanka clinch the match with 10 deliveries to spare, providing a sigh of relief for Sri Lankan fans and securing their first win in the tournament.
Sadeera Samarawickrama's match-winning performance lit up the day! 🔥🇱🇰 #CWC23 #SLvNED #LankanLions pic.twitter.com/hwN2LHZq3A
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 21, 2023
The win not only puts the Lankans on the board but also serves as a testament to the unpredictable and fiercely competitive nature of the 2023 World Cup. With this thrilling victory, the Sri Lankan campaign gains momentum, and they aim to build on this success in their upcoming matches. The tournament continues to be a captivating spectacle, with each match delivering its fair share of surprises and excitement.
Look at how the fans have reacted:
Highest successful ODI run chase in Lucknow! Well done, Sri Lanka! First #CWC23 points on the board! #NEDvSL pic.twitter.com/X1BkcA0T2c
— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) October 21, 2023
You guys played very well, give a little more effort in the next match, you guys are a better team than Pakistan right now❤️🔥#NEDvSL #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/K1l9oZR1BG
— Ballu Butcher (@ImBalluButcher) October 21, 2023
https://twitter.com/_anxious_one/status/1715715105554653556?s=20
Important win for Sri Lanka. As we have seen with the Netherlands, this could have been a tricky chase. Sri Lanka are a better side than they have shown us so far.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 21, 2023
It's a relief to have 2 points 🎯#NEDvSL #WorldCupOnStar
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 21, 2023
Sadeera Samarawickrama is a seriously impressive player. I wonder why it took Sri Lanka till so late to make him a regular in the team. Everything about him suggests he's a gun cricketer. How come he didn't get spotted earlier? Or was he not a school cricket star? @RexClementine…
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) October 21, 2023
Thriller Match
— सजल टोप्पो (@toppo_sajal) October 21, 2023
Proud of the Dutch lads regardless 👏🏻
— Netherlands Cricket Insider (@KNCBInsider) October 21, 2023
Congratulations. Finally,we got the much awaited victory.👏👏👏💃
— Fatema Adnan (@FatemaAdnan3) October 21, 2023
