Top-order and bowlers let us down today: Scott Edwards

Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards wasn’t too pleased with his top-order after yet another collapse against Sri Lanka in Match 19 of the 2023 World Cup in Lucknow on Saturday (October 21). 

The Men in Orange were reduced to 91/6 before Sybrand Engelbrecht (70) and Logan van Beek (59) put on 130 runs for the seventh wicket and got them to 262, which Sri Lanka chased down in the penultimate over and registered their first win of the event.

“We obviously didn't start well. I thought we got ourselves to what was a pretty competitive total. Our first 30 overs - we just didn't get it right. Leaked too many boundary balls. Didn't field that well either,” said Edwards after the Netherlands lost the game by five wickets.

“Our bowlers have been good for us throughout the tournament, but our top-order and our bowlers let us down today. Don't know if we would change too much. Just want to execute better. Our batting hasn't quite clicked yet. Got a few too many starts but haven't kicked on.” 

Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis inside the powerplay but Sadeera Samarawickrama stepped up and found good support from other batters. Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva all chipped in with decent cameos and helped Sri Lanka over the line.

Mendis heaped heavy praise on his new-ball bowlers - Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha - who took four wickets each and dismantled Netherlands’ batting line-up. “Very happy today, winning our first match of the WC. The bowlers did well in the first 10 overs. Rajitha and Dilshan bowled really well.

“280 would've been enough on this pitch maybe. It was turning at the end. Sadeera batted really well. Rajitha had only three overs left so that's why I took him off. Sadeera and Asalanka batted really well. Lots of positive things.”

The run-chase wouldn’t have been that simple if Samarawickrama hadn’t stuck till the end. The 28-year-old missed out on a century but added three crucial stands with Nissanka, Asalanka and de Silva. Samarawickrama was involved in three handy partnerships - 52, 77 and 76 respectively - and only left the field once the job was done.

“Really happy to finish the game for my team. We needed a win, we haven't done well in the last three games, so I really wanted to win a game for my team and I am really happy,” said Samarawickrama, who was named player of the match. 

“When I went to bat the wicket was not easy, the ball was spinning and the pacers were bowling good line and lengths. My plan was to bat deep and play maximum overs, I did my basics right and hence succeeded.”