Sri Lanka and Netherlands to compete in the summit clash: 2023 CWC Qualifier Final Preview and Prediction
Three weeks of power-packed cricket has come to an end with Sri Lanka and Netherlands reaching the final of the 2023 CWC Qualifiers. Both have booked their ticket to India for the World Cup after some incredible performances against the top sides.
Sri Lanka, who made their intentions clear by giving their best, are set to repeat their good performance in the main event whereas the Netherlands have surprised everyone with their splendid effort with both bat and ball.
In the upcoming final in Harare, both would want to end their campaign with a victory to keep their confidence at the top, however, a victory from here would help them gain more attention while going for the biggest cricketing event.
With so much cricket already happening in Harare, both sides would be aware of the pitch and how it will change accordingly. It has been good for the batters and would most probably be a high-scoring game in the end.
What have they done so far?
Sri Lanka has been the top side in this tournament with no loss in the tournament so far. They have enjoyed some great times in the past, having won the iconic Asia Cup as well as another fantastic performance here in Zimbabwe.
They started their campaign against UAE where they thrashed them by 175 runs. After that they won against Oman by 10 wickets, followed by victories against Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands and Zimbabwe.
Sri Lankan players celebrate after a wicket in one of the matches from the CWC Qualifiers 2023
Out of all these victories, the closest encounter was against the Netherlands only which they won by 21 runs. It was a low-scoring affair where the bowlers played their part for Sri Lanka. Dhananjaya de Silva was the player of the match for his exceptional innings of 93 under pressure.
On the other hand, the Netherlands too had enjoyed success in this campaign by winning five matches out of seven. The loss came against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Now, this is going to be the perfect time for them to take revenge and win the trophy. A win from here can automatically put them in confidence which will help them fight against the top teams in the World Cup later this year.
Head to Head Record
It is 4-0 when it comes to the head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Netherlands and all of them have been won by the Lions. The Netherlands, on the other hand, would be quite different now after gaining more experience and having all the ability to open their account this time. It is going to be a tough fight for both.
Key Players
Bas de Leede (Netherlands): The batting all-rounder from the Netherlands played a major role in making his team qualify for the World Cup. He played a terrific knock of 123 against Scotland in the so-called virtual semi-final and gained appreciation from everywhere.
Bas de Leede scored a phenomenal ton in the crucial game against Scotland
Now, de Leede has to be at his best once again in the all-important final against Sri Lanka. Earlier in their Super Sixes match against them, he scored a vital 41 that went in vain in the end. This time, the all-rounder would want to make his effort count.
Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka): With 16 wickets in 7 matches so far, Theekshana has been Sri Lanka’s go-to bowler at any stage. He has bowled with an outstanding average of around 13 and will be key for Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday.
Theekshana got a tremendous experience from the IPL and it can be seen here clearly. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, he learnt a lot and proved himself all the time. It would be interesting to see how he performs in the final.
Predicted XIs
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka ©, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana
Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Wesley Barresi, Scott Edwards © (wk), Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Ryan Klein, Aryan Dutt, Clayton Floyd
Prediction
With the kind of form Sri Lanka is in, it is quite clear that they would look for a big victory here before moving to the main event. They would give their best to maintain consistency going forward, however, some spectacular shows from the Netherlands can make things tough for them. Sri Lanka has a good bowling attack and their spinners can be quite dangerous for the Dutch team.