.webp "ned vs sl cwc 2023") |
| Netherlands vs Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 2023 |
Their determination was evident under the scorching sun on Friday. The team dressed in orange put in rigorous training, with the batters spending significant time in the nets and the bowlers pushing hard.
Following their remarkable upset in the Cricket World Cup, the Netherlands must be eager to deliver another impressive performance against Sri Lanka at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium on Saturday. Their convincing victory in Dharamshala would have undoubtedly boosted the morale of Scott Edwards' team, clearly demonstrating why they shouldn't be simply categorized as an associate nation. Their aspirations in this World Cup go beyond just participating; they have set their sights on reaching the semifinals.
Netherlands doesn't seem content to rest on the laurels of their victory against South Africa. They may also be looking to avenge their previous losses to Sri Lanka in the World Cup qualifiers. If they can replicate the passion, resilience, and preparedness they displayed against South Africa, they could pose a significant challenge to the former champions. In that game, Skipper Scott Edwards played a pivotal role with his determined batting, which helped set a competitive target for the bowlers.
Scott Edwards will be looking for more substantial contributions from key batters like Teja Nidamanuru, Max O'Dowd, and Vikramjit Singh, who have managed just one fifty among them in their three matches so far. The bowlers, whether it's the seamers like Logan van Beek and Paul van Meekeren or the spinners like Roelof van der Merwe and Aryan Dutt, will aim to build on their excellent performance in Dharamshala.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has been dealing with injuries and needs improved efforts from their bowlers. They suffered in their first match against South Africa when they conceded 428 runs, breaking the tournament record for the highest score. Their struggles have continued.
In the World Cup match against Sri Lanka, Netherlands' captain Scott Edwards won the toss and chose to bat. The Dutch team retained the same lineup that produced a stunning upset against South Africa in their previous fixture on October 17. Sri Lanka enters the match after three consecutive losses, placing them at the bottom of the 10-team standings. Netherlands has collected two points from three matches and currently occupies the eighth position.
The Netherlands, after their historic victory over South Africa in Dharamshala, will approach their match against Sri Lanka in the World Cup with newfound confidence. Eager to secure back-to-back victories, the Dutch will focus on strengthening their top-order performance. The morale-boosting win against South Africa has injected additional confidence into their lineup as they prepare to face Sri Lanka.
In contrast, Sri Lanka is facing concerns regarding their bowling performance, with a lack of collective effort in this regard. Despite strong batting performances, including two 300-plus totals in their initial matches, Sri Lanka's bowling unit has struggled due to several injuries to key players.
Sri Lanka will place their hopes on fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who has emerged as their leading wicket-taker in the tournament with seven scalps. Madushanka's ability to effectively swing the ball, as demonstrated against Australia at the same venue, will be a crucial factor in their match against the Netherlands. This will be particularly important in targeting the Netherlands' top-order batsmen who have been experiencing difficulties.
As the two teams face each other in a crucial World Cup clash on Saturday, let's take a look at their head-to-head stats and recent form:
Head to Head:
Remarkably, the two teams have never met in a World Cup match before. They did face each other twice this year in the World Cup qualifiers, with Sri Lanka emerging as the winners, including in the final of the qualifiers held in Zimbabwe.
Their first encounter took place in a Champions Trophy match in 2002, where a star-studded Sri Lankan side convincingly defeated the Netherlands by a margin of 206 runs, marking their biggest win against the Dutch. In five previous ODIs between the two teams, Sri Lanka has emerged victorious in all five.
Recent Form:
Netherlands: WLLLW (most recent first)
Sri Lanka: LLLLW
Fun Fact:
Sri Lanka's recent streak of losses in the first three games of a World Cup dates back to 1987 when they faced a daunting six-match losing streak in the tournament. This time, the Sri Lankan side has faced defeats against South Africa, Pakistan, and Australia.
Anticipated Playing XIs:
Netherlands:
- Max O’Dowd,
- Vikramjit Singh,
- Colin Ackermann,
- Bas de Leede,
- Teja Nidamanuru,
- Scott Edwards (C and WK),
- Sybrand Engelbrecht,
- Logan van Beek,
- Roelof van der Merwe,
- Aryan Dutt
- Paul van Meekeren.
Sri Lanka:
- Pathum Nissanka,
- Kusal Perera,
- Kusal Mendis (C and WK),
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Charith Asalanka,
- Dhananjaya de Silva,
- Dushan Hemantha,
- Chamika Karunaratne,
- Maheesh Theekshana,
- Kasun Rajitha and
- Dilshan Madushanka.