Sri Lanka stormed into the Super 12s of the with a eight-wicket win against the Netherlands. They bowled out the Netherlands for 44, their second-lowest T20I total as well as the second-lowest team total in the history of the T20 World Cup. This was the third successive defeat for the Netherlands. Lahiru Kumara (3-7) was adjudged Player of the Match for his impressive performance.
The chase was more of a formality as Sri Lanka achieved in just over seven overs. Pathum Nissanka, who scored a fifty in the last game, got a five-ball duck, and was followed by Charith Asalanka. However, Kusal Perera (33*) got the much-needed runs before the next stage.
The Dutch got off an ordinary start, losing their most consistent run-getter in Max O'Dowd to the fourth ball of the match. O'Dowd was run out for 5. Then Maheesh Theekshana struck twice to reduce them to 20/3. Both wickets came off carrom balls, as Stephan Myburgh and Ben Cooper were beaten through the gate.
An over later, Wanindu Hasaranga pinned both Colin Ackermann and Bas de Leede leg before in the space of four balls. Ackermann's 11 remained the highest score for the Dutch. He also hit only six of the match. At this point, five batters were back in the pavilion by 32.
Lahiru Kumara then cleaned up the tail with a triple blow in the tenth over. Scott Edwards missed out a flick and was trapped leg-before. A ball later, Brandon Glover edged to Kusal Perera. And finally, a searing yorker on the last ball put wrapped up the game.
Brief scores: Netherlands 44 in 10 overs (Colin Ackermann 11; Lahiru Kumara 3-7) lost to Sri Lanka in 45/2 in 7.1 overs (Kusal Perera 33*; Brandon Glover 1-2) by 8 wickets with 77 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Lahiru Kumara.