‘Ye Lanka dahan itni jldi kaise ho gayi – Fans react as Sri Lanka’s hopes of direct qualification for 2023 World Cup Qualification ends
Sri Lanka Cricket Team (Source – Twitter)
The excitement of the upcoming 50-over World Cup, which will take place this year in India, has taken its toll on the fans. All teams have started preparing for the grand tournament. However, on Thursday, March 30, something shocking happened as the 1996 World champions Sri Lanka’s hopes of direct qualification for the upcoming World Cup ended after losing an ODI series by 2-0.
Meanwhile, after winning the series, New Zealand topped the Super League table of the qualifying stage for the World Cup. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan team are at the 9th position. Interestingly, the teams which are in the top 8 will qualify for the tournament while other teams will have to play a qualifying tournament, which will take place in Zimbabwe in June.
Brilliant all-round performance by New Zealand
Talking about the 3rd match of the 3-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the Sri Lankan won the toss and opted to bat first at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. But the Sri Lankan team didn’t start well as the Kiwi speedster Matt Henry got Nuwanidu Fernando and Kusal Mendis early and broke the back of their batting line-up. However, that wasn’t enough as Henry Shipley got rid of the dangerous batter Angelo Mathews and Sri Lanka were 18/3.
Pathum Nissanka was the lone man, who resisted but was run out after a fifty and the lower middle-order played poor shots to gift their wickets away. The skipper Dasun Shanaka looked good for his 31 but slogged and got out. The Blackcaps’ fast bowlers displayed brilliant bowling performances as Henry, Shipley, and Daryl Mitchell picked up 3 wickets each and restricted the visitors on 157.
Chasing the target, the hosts also had a bad start as they lost their first 4 wickets on the score of just 59 runs and the game was evenly poised but Will Young held firm at one end, Henry Nicholls was enterprising and ensured that the team didn’t face any more hiccups on their way to the winning post. Young scored 86 runs off 113 balls which included 11 fours while Nicholls scored 44 runs off 52 deliveries smashing 5 fours and both helped the team to win the match by 6 wickets.
Here’s how fans reacted to the recent development:
1 like = 1 slap on Daniel Alexander
— Aarav (@sigma__male_) March 31, 2023
Srilanka can only beat minnow porkistan
— ً (@Antivirus_45) March 31, 2023
Vadapav lost against same sl side in asia cup
— Haniel Peter (@peter_haniel) March 31, 2023
https://twitter.com/ItsHitmanERA/status/1641701280283496448?s=20
https://twitter.com/KoolCj2/status/1641699668810936321?s=20
Unreal downfall!
— tasin ✪ (@tasinraval16) March 31, 2023
https://twitter.com/DHONI_I7/status/1641699926466785282?s=20
https://twitter.com/aakash_hansh/status/1641700406811312128?s=20
Meanwhile Alexander pic.twitter.com/wZp5SpjbpW
— Attention Deficiency (@warofwords01) March 31, 2023
