Sri Lanka get on the board at World Cup with win over the Netherlands

AFP / Noah Seelam

Sri Lanka beat the Netherlands by five wickets with 10 balls to spare to become the final team to claim a hard-fought victory at the World Cup because of Sadeera Samarawickrama's unbeaten knock of 91.

The Netherlands won the toss and opted to bat first, but they had a poor start after Sri Lanka's fast bowlers Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka ran through the top and middle order.

The European side was reeling at 91-6 when skipper Scott Edwards was sent back to the pavilion by Maheesh Theekshana, but Sybrand Engelbrecht (70) and Logan van Beek (59) rescued the Dutch side with a 130-run partnership.

The pair rotated strike and guided the team to a competitive total, but they were bundled out for 262 in the final over of their innings as Rajitha and Madushanka finished with four wickets each.

In response, Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka laid the foundation for their chase with a knock of 54 that included nine boundaries, but Aryan Dutt contained them with three wickets, dismissing Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis cheaply.

However, Samarawickrama stood firm again with a patient 91 off 107 balls to add to his century against Pakistan as the island nation wrapped up the contest in the 49th over.

More from Sports

Coming Up on Dubai Eye

  • The Best of Dubai Eye 103.8

    Noon - 7:00pm

    Hear the highlights from the week gone by on Dubai Eye 103.8. Listen again to the best interviews, advice and the top stories that has gripped our conversation this week.

  • Extra Time

    7:00pm - 10:00pm

    Chris & Robbie bring you the latest from the sporting world plus interviews with upcoming and legendary sporting stars.

BUSINESS BREAKFAST LATEST

On Dubai Eye

  • Flying Taxis

    It sounds like an episode of The Jetsons, but the sight of flying taxis whizzing around our cities could be much closer than you think.

  • Tough penalties for deliberate tax evasion

    The UAE has said that tougher penalties will come into force from 1st August for not keeping proper corporate tax records.