Netherlands vs Sri Lanka Highlights, World Cup: Rajitha, Samarawickrama shine as SL register first win of tournament

Netherlands vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Sri Lanka registered their first win of the 2023 Cricket World Cup on Saturday, beating Netherlands by five wickets in Lucknow.

After Kasun Rajitha’s four-wicket haul helped Sri Lanka see off the Dutch for 262, Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama scored fifties to help the Lankans cross the finish line with 10 balls to spare.

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SL vs NED team news

In team news, Netherlands have made no team changes following their 38-run win over South Africa. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, nursing multiple injuries have Dushan Hemantha and Kasun Rajitha come in for Dunith Wellalage, Lahiru Kumara.

Netherlands XI: Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards(w/c), Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren.

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w/c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.

Preview: Netherlands would be keen on taking their confidence from beating South Africa into their next contest, against Sri Lanka, in the World Cup contest at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday.

Netherlands didn’t have the greatest start with the bat against South Africa but recovered in the middle and then bowled perfectly to restrict a high-flying Proteas. This was their first win over a Test playing nation at a World Cup. They’ve now beaten South Africa in two consecutive ICC World Cup events. But for them, the batting has to deliver against an injury-plagued Sri Lanka.

For Sri Lanka, the batting has clicked but they’ve been brought down significantly by the bowling and injuries. Kusal Perera is the latest to enter the sick bay and will undergo late checks to see if he’s fit after suffering a concussion against Australia. If he misses out, Dimuth Karunaratne comes in. Angelo Mathews and Dushmantha Chameera have already joined the squad but as travelling reserves. It comes after Matheesha Pathirana had missed the previous game with a shoulder niggle. Dasun Shanaka is out of contention for the World Cup itself.