Sri Lanka’s bowlers brought the high-flying Netherlands down to earth by dismissing them for the lowest ever Twenty20 International score, 39 all out, in 10.3 overs to earn a comfortable nine-wicket win in Chittagong on Monday. Angelo Mathews and Ajantha Mendis were the wreckers-in-chief against the ICC Associate Member side, picking three wickets each before their batsmen reached 40-1 in five overs, with Mahela Jawardene and
Tillakaratne Dilshan remaining unbeaten on 12 and 11 runs respectively.
An electrical failure halted the match from 6:40-6:51pm as there was not sufficient light for an international cricket match to proceed.
It was the second disruption at the venue in less than two weeks. Play was disrupted during the March 12 practice game between Afghanistan and the Netherlands as the floodlights went down after a power failure.
The Netherlands were flabbergasted by opening bowler Nuwan Kulasekara, who produced a gem of a two-over over opening spell, conceding no runs and taking the wicket of Stephan Myburgh with the third ball of the innings to open the floodgates.
Tom Cooper (16) was the only Dutch player to reach double figures as the rest failed to negotiate the spinners and Lasith Malinga’s pace bowling. Malinga picked 2-5 in his two-over spell.
Mendis picked 3-12 and Mathews grabbed 3-16 to wrap up the innings under 40 runs, much to the disbelief of the few thousand spectators who arrived to watch some Dutch hitting after their record-breaking feat in the last match to qualify for the Super 10 stage.
The Netherlands displayed their skills to the fullest as far as hitting was concerned in that match against Ireland on Friday, reaching 190-4 in 13.5 overs. The Dutch needed to complete the chase within 14.2 overs to book a place in the Super 10s.
BRIEF SCORES
Netherlands 39 in 10.3 overs (T Cooper 16; A Mendis 3-12, A Mathews 3-16) v Sri Lanka 40-1 in 5 overs (K Perera 14, T Dilshan 12 not out).
Result: Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets.
Man of the match: A Mendis (SL)
-With New Age input
