SL vs UAE CWC Qualifier Match 3 Highlights: In a commanding exhibition of cricketing prowess, Sri Lanka launched their World Cup Qualifiers campaign with a resounding victory, trouncing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by a staggering 175 runs.
SL vs UAE CWC Qualifier Match 3 Highlights
The Sri Lankan top order shone brightly, with superb half-centuries from Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Pathum Nissanka, propelling their team to a formidable total of 355 for 6. However, it was the sensational performance by Wanindu Hasaranga, who scalped a career-best 6 for 24, that dismantled the UAE’s pursuit, limiting them to a mere 180 all out.
Openers Set the Stage on Fire
SL vs UAE CWC Qualifier Match 3 Highlights: From the outset, Sri Lanka’s opening duo of Nissanka and Karunaratne set the stage alight, constructing a solid foundation with an impressive 95-run partnership. Karunaratne showcased his fluent strokeplay, accumulating seven boundaries before falling victim to Aayan Khan after a brisk 52 off just 54 deliveries.
Nissanka, on the other hand, exhibited patience and composure on his way to a well-earned fifty in 66 balls, only to be dismissed by Basil Hameed. In light of SL vs UAE CWC Qualifier Match 3 Highlights, the real fireworks, however, were ignited by Mendis and Samarawickrama, who blazed a scintillating 105-run standoff with a mere 79 balls, laying a strong platform for Sri Lanka’s imposing total.
Mendis, in particular, demonstrated his dominance over wrist-spinner Karthik Meiyappan, launching a flurry of attacking strokes to amass a quickfire 78, punctuated by ten resounding boundaries. As per the SL vs UAE CWC Qualifier Match 3 Highlights, Meiyappan’s inability to trouble the stumps consistently and his reliance on the wrong’un were expertly exploited by Mendis, who unleashed an array of sweeps to keep the UAE bowlers at bay.
In stark contrast, Hasaranga and fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana cleverly denied the UAE batsmen the opportunity to employ the sweep shot, tightening the screws on their opponents.
Samarawickrama’s audacious strokeplay was also on full display during his blistering knock of 73 off just 64 deliveries. The highlight of his innings came in the 44th over when he unleashed a sensational ramp shot, initially intending to scoop the ball over short fine leg. However, Samarawickrama’s remarkable presence of mind allowed him to adjust his shot at the last moment, executing a breathtaking ramp over wicketkeeper Vriitya Aravind for a boundary. Accordion tp the SL vs UAE CWC Qualifier Match 3 Highlights, his partnership with Mendis provided the backbone of Sri Lanka’s innings, solidifying their position of dominance.
While Sri Lanka’s assault was relatively bereft of sixes until the penultimate over, Charith Asalanka injected a much-needed impetus in the death overs. As per the SL vs UAE CWC Qualifier Match 3 Highlights, Asalanka’s explosive cameo of 48 not out off a mere 23 deliveries, embellished with five fours and two towering sixes, propelled Sri Lanka past the 350-run mark. The final over witnessed Hasaranga joining the hitting spree, belting Zahoor Khan for three boundaries in four balls, further demoralizing the UAE bowlers.
As the UAE embarked on their pursuit of a mammoth target, their hopes were swiftly extinguished by the guile and wizardry of Hasaranga. Despite some players having prior experience facing Hasaranga in the inaugural ILT20, they struggled to decipher his potent wrong’un, allowing him to achieve his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
The UAE captain, Muhammad Waseem, and vice-captain Vriitya Aravind fought valiantly, each contributing 39 runs, but their efforts proved to be in vain. Naseer’s fighting cameo, coupled with his impressive bowling figures of 2 for 44, stood out amidst the UAE’s faltering innings.
Reflecting on Hasaranga’s exceptional performance, Aravind lauded the spinner as “world-class” and acknowledged the challenge of facing him, even with prior video analysis. Hasaranga’s ability to consistently outfox the batsmen underscored his dominance and reaffirmed his status as one of the premier bowlers in the cricketing realm.
The comprehensive victory over the UAE marks an emphatic beginning to Sri Lanka’s World Cup Qualifiers campaign, instilling a surge of confidence within the team. Their commanding display, buoyed by stellar contributions from the top order and Hasaranga’s mesmerizing bowling, sends a clear message to their rivals: Sri Lanka is a force to be reckoned with on the road to World Cup glory.
SL vs UAE CWC Qualifier Match 3 Highlights: Score Summary
Sri Lanka: 355 for 6 (Mendis 78, Samarawickrama 73, Naseer 2-44) beat
UAE: 180 (Waseem 39, Aravind 39, Hasaranga 6-24)
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