Sri Lanka overcome Netherlands scare after Dhananjaya de Sliva's career-best

Dhananjaya de Silva stars for Sri Lanka with a career-best 93 as Sri Lanka survive a scare against the Netherlands in the Super Six fixture of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers against Sri Lanka at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. Sri Lanka looked in deep trouble when they were reduced to 36 for 4 and 96 for 6. But de Silva found relaible allies in Wanindu Hasaranga (20) and Maheesh Theekshana (28) to push their total to a competitive 213 on a low and slow surface. 

Once again, Logan van Beek sprung into action with three wickets, with Bas de Leede chipping in with as many.

The Dutch got off to a bright start after losing both their openers for a duckwith Wesley Barresi (52) and de Leede (41) putting on 77 for the third wicket before Hasaranga and Theekshana with the ball this time wreaked havoc, sharing five wickets between them. Skipper Scott Edwards (67*) scored his fourth fifty of the tournament to keep the Netherlands in the hunt. But he soon ran out of partners and his side succumbed to a 21-run defeat.

With this win, Sri Lanka have one foot already in the World Cup in India. They need just another win to seal the deal. They take on Zimbabwe at the same venue next. The Netherlands are not totally out of it. However, they will need to win both their fixtures agianst Oman (July 3) and Scotland (July 6) and hope Zimbabwe or Sri Lanka lose their next two games. 

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 213 in 47.4 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 93, Dimuth Karunaratne 33; Logan van Beek 3 for 26 beat Netherlands 192 in 40 overs (Scott Edwards 67*, Wesley Barresi 52; Maheesh Theekshana 3 for 31)

Player of the match: Dhananjaya de Silva

Back-to-back wins for Ireland

Ireland did well to back up their comprehensive win over UAE in their final Group B fixture to ease past USA by six wickets in a seventh place play-off in Harare. Craig Young, playing his first game of the tournament was the pick of the Irish bowlers, finishing with 3 for 35.

Saiteja Mukkamalla (55) and Sushant Modani (55) added 88 for the third wicket after Young had struck twice off consecutive deliveries. That's as good as things got for the United States as they collapsed from 121 for 2 to 196 all-out in less than 20 overs.

Ireland wasted little sweat in chasing it down after a superb start from the openers Paul Stirling (58) and Andy McBrine (35), who put on 84 for the first wicket. Andy Balbirnie (45*) batted through and there were also valuable contributions from Harry Tector (25) and Lorcan Tucker (25) as Ireland romped to a six-wicket victory with 94 balls to spare.

Nosthush Kenjige briefly gave USA a glimmer of hope removing the openers, but it was too little too late in the end.

Brief scores:

USA 196 in 42.4 overs (Sushant Modani 55, Saiteja Mukkamalla 55; Craig Young 3 for 35 lost to Ireland 197 for 4 in 34.2 overs (Paul Stirling 58, Andy Balbirnie 45*; Nosthush Kenjige 2/41) by 6 wickets

Player of the match: Craig Young