Photo Credit: ICC
Aconvincing win for Sri Lanka ended Ireland’s hopes of reaching the Super Six at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023, while Scotland made it three in a row by beating Oman.
Ireland needed to beat Sri Lanka to have any chance of reaching the next stage, but fell to a 133-run loss as Dimuth Karunaratne added a century to the fifties he had made in the first two games.
That result also clinched a place in the Super Six for Scotland and Oman, who were in action at the same time.
Scotland ran out 76-run winners in that one, with Brandon McMullen’s brilliant century setting them up for victory.
Karunaratne and Hasaranga keep firing
Sri Lanka are a perfect three from three in Zimbabwe, and it is the same men who have stepped up time and again.
Dimuth Karunaratne had enjoyed knocks of 52 and 61 not out in wins over the UAE and Oman, and produced his best performance yet with 103 as Sri Lanka made 325 after being put in.
In a tournament where big chases have come thick and fast, Wanindu Hasaranga again made the difference with the ball, collecting a third five-wicket haul in as many matches in the 133-run win.
Barry McCarthy had earlier taken two wickets in as many balls in the ninth over as Ireland restricted Sri Lanka to 48 for two, but that brought Sadeera Samarawickrama (82) to the crease to join Karunaratne.
The duo proceeded to add 168 for the third wicket to set the platform for a huge score. Samarawickrama eventually fell off the bowling of Gareth Delany, failing to take advantage of being put down moments earlier.
Karunaratne followed in the 38th over, bowled by Mark Adair after bringing up his maiden ODI hundred.
Sri Lanka kept the pressure on though, Charith Asalanka (38) and Dhananjaya de Silva (42 not out) providing some valuable runs.
However, Adair (4/46) chipped in with three further wickets as Sri Lanka stumbled down the stretch, leaving Ireland requiring 326 to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Any Irish momentum from the end of the innings quickly dissipated. The chase never really got going, Paul Stirling caught behind off Lahiru Kumara in the fourth over.
Kasun Rajitha then took the other opener, Andy McBrine (17) before Hasaranga came up with the crucial wicket of skipper Andy Balbirnie (12).
The wickets kept tumbling, Harry Tector becoming Hasaranga’s second victim when he was trapped in front for 33.
Curtis Campher’s counter-attacking 39 had Ireland within striking distance of the asking rate but he was caught behind off Maheesh Theekshana (2/29) to leave his side 116 for six.
Hasaranga then added two more in the space of three balls before completing his five-wicket haul with the final ball of his tenth over, ending a 30-run stand for the tenth wicket by taking Josh Little (20) with a return catch.
That made Hasaranga just the second bowler in men’s ODI history to record three successive five-wicket hauls – an impressive return considering he had never previously achieved the feat before this tournament.
McMullen keeps Scotland perfect
Brandon McMullen began this tournament with a first five-wicket haul, and he now has a maiden ODI hundred after firing Scotland to a 76-run win over Oman.
Christopher McBride was pinned leg before for a duck off the third ball to bring McMullen to the crease, where he joined Matthew Cross (27) to add 82 runs for the second wicket.
When the keeper was bowled by Jay Odedra (2/68), skipper Richie Berrington came in, fresh from his century against the UAE.
He raced to a 62-ball 60 before a mix-up after a misfield saw the skipper run out, bringing a 138-run stand to a close.
McMullen followed for 136, the second of Bilal Khan’s five victims as Oman fought back, although Tomas Mackintosh (32) and Mark Watt (25) chipped in with some handy late runs.
Bilal kept chipping away though, finishing with figures of five for 55, before two wickets in the final over, including Adrian Neill’s run-out off the last ball, saw Scotland finish on 320 all out.
Oman never threatened to chase it down, with the opening pair putting on just 25 for the first wicket in ten overs.
McMullen ended that partnership when he had Kashyap Prajapati bowled for 12, with Neill then adding Jatinder Singh for 14.
Bowled was the preferred method of dismissal, with skipper Zeeshan Maqsood (8) and Aqib Ilyas (31) also succumbing to Michael Leask and Watt respectively, leaving Oman on 72 for four.
Chris Greaves (5/53) then joined the party, dismissing Mohammad Nadeem (15) and Ayaan Khan (30) to make it 120 for six.
A 105-run stand between Shoaib Khan (36) and Naseem Khushi (69) reduced the margin of victory, but Greaves dismissed both before bowling Fayyaz Butt as Oman finished on 244 for nine from their 50 overs.
Scotland have now won three from three ahead of a meeting with Sri Lanka to decide top spot in Group B, while Oman are through to the Super Six courtesy of earlier wins over Ireland and the UAE.
Windies and Netherlands face off for Super Six points
Like Group B, the three qualifiers for the Super Six in Group A are already decided, with Zimbabwe, Netherlands and the West Indies all safely through.
Three is still plenty on the line for the latter two sides however, when they meet at the Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare.
With both sides having lost to Zimbabwe, they will need a win in this one to take any points through to the Super Six stage.
Considering that only the top two from the Super Six will reach the final and qualify for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, those two points could have huge ramifications.
In the group’s other game, Zimbabwe will look to make it a perfect four wins from four against the USA at the Harare Sports Club.
Scores in brief
Sri Lanka beat Ireland at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo by 133 runs
Sri Lanka 325 all out in 49.5 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 103, Sadeera Samarawickrama 82; Mark Adair 4/46, Barry McCarthy 3/56)
Ireland 192 all out in 31 overs (Curtis Campher 39, Harry Tector 33; Wanindu Hasaranga 5/79; Maheesh Theekshana 2-29)
Scotland beat Oman at Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo by 111 runs
Scotland 320 all out in 50 overs (Brandon McMullen 136, Richie Berrington 60; Bilal Khan 5/55, Fayyaz Butt 2/68)
Oman 244 for nine in 50 overs (Naseem Khushi 69, Shoaib Khan 36; Chris Greaves 5/53, Michael Leask 1/10)
Monday 26 June – Fixtures
Group A
Zimbabwe v USA at Harare Sports Club, Harare
Netherlands v West Indies at Takashinga Cricket Club, Harare
