ICC World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka have qualified for the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup after defeating Zimbabwe by nine wickets in their Super Six match in Bulawayo on Sunday.
The win ensures that Sri Lanka will finish in the top two of the Super Six standings, which will guarantee them a place in the main tournament in India later this year.
Sri Lanka have been in excellent form throughout the qualifiers, winning all six of their matches so far. They have been led by the batting of Pathum Nissanka, who has scored 402 runs at an average of 80.40, and the bowling of Maheesh Theekshana, who has taken 13 wickets at an average of 12.85.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have struggled in the qualifiers, winning just one of their six matches. They were bowled out for just 165 runs in their innings on Sunday, with Theekshana taking four wickets.
Sri Lanka’s victory was their 10th consecutive ODI win, their longest winning streak since 2014. They will be hoping to continue their good form in the main tournament in India later this year.
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Here are some of the highlights of Sri Lanka’s qualification:
- Pathum Nissanka scored 137 not out off 104 balls to lead Sri Lanka to a nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe.
- Maheesh Theekshana took four wickets for 26 runs to help Sri Lanka bowl Zimbabwe out for 165.
- Sri Lanka have now won all six of their matches in the qualifiers, and they are guaranteed a place in the main tournament in India later this year.
- Sri Lanka’s 10th consecutive ODI win is their longest winning streak since 2014.
- The qualification of Sri Lanka is a major boost for the country’s cricket team. It has been a few years since Sri Lanka have been a major force in international cricket, but this qualification shows that they are on the right track.
Sri Lanka’s national cricket team achieved considerable success beginning in the 1990s, rising from underdog status to winning the Cricket World Cup in 1996, under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga. Since then, the team has continued to be a force in international cricket. The Sri Lankan cricket team reached the finals of the 2007 and 2011 Cricket World Cups consecutively. They ended up being runners-up on both occasions. Sri Lanka also won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 (co-champions with India), and the ICC T20 World Cup in 2014 (vs India).
In recent years, Sri Lanka’s cricket team has struggled to maintain its former level of success. However, the team is still ranked among the top 10 teams in the world, and it is expected to bounce back in the years to come.
The team will be hoping to build on this success in the main tournament in India later this year. They will be one of the dark horses of the tournament, and they will be looking to cause some upsets.