Sri Lanka qualify for ICC Cricket World Cup-by Shehan Daniel

Sri Lanka qualified for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, after beating Zimbabwe by nine wickets in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and securing a place in the final of the ongoing qualifying tournament.

Chasing a target of 166, Sri Lanka were anchored by Pathum Nissanka, who scored 101 off 102, his second ODI century.

That Sri Lanka had a relatively subpar score to chase was thanks to spinner Maheesh Theekshana and left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who shared seven wickets between them.

Theekshana picked off wickets through Zimbabwe’s middle order, to finish with 4 for 25, but it was the efforts of Madushanka at the top of the innings that derailed the hosts.

Having been put into bat first, the hosts were rocked by left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who removed Joylord Gumbie and Wessly Madhevere over his first two overs as Zimbabwe were reduced to 8 for 2.

Captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams began staging a recovery by that third-wicket partnership was ended in the seventh over with the score on 30, when Ervine was caught for 14.

Williams and Sikandar Raza put on 68 runs for Zimbabwe’s best partnership, before Dasun Shanaka had Raza caught in the 20th over.

29 runs later, Maheesh Theekshana struck for the first time, going through the defence of the dangerous Sean Williams, to dismiss him for 56.

Theekshana then accouonted for the wickets of Ryan Burl and Luke Jongwe, as the hosts slipped to 144 for 7.

Matheesha Pathirana took the wickets of Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava before Theekshana wrapped the innings up in the 33rd over, bowling Blessing Muzarabani.