TOURNAMENT REVIEW
Follow UsSri Lanka pipped the Netherlands in the World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ) 2023 by a comprehensive 128 runs, but both teams had already booked a place in the World Cup, scheduled to be played in October-November this year. There were plenty of players who lit the tournament up, and here's a look at what we at Cricket.com feel is the best XI of the tournament:
Top-order
Vikramjit Singh (NED)
326 runs @ 40.75, 50s - 1, 100s - 1; 6 wickets @ 21.50
Vikramjit Singh’s steadiness at the top of the Dutch batting order has been one of the reasons behind the Netherlands’ success at the Qualifiers. Barring a couple of single-digit scores, the southpaw has gotten off to starts in all the matches, which includes a well-complied 88 against Zimbabwe and a maiden ODI century against Oman. He also provided the side with steady starts in the games against West Indies (37) and Scotland (40) in high-pressure run-chases.
His medium-pacers too came in handy, picking up at least a wicket in each of his first three matches, including a career-best of 2 for 20 against Nepal in Harare.
Pathum Nissanka (SL)
417 runs @ 69.50, 50s - 2, 100s - 2
With back-to-back hundreds in the tournament against Zimbabwe and West Indies, Pathum Nissanka has been Sri Lanka’s best batter in the tournament. Barring a first-ball duck against Netherlands in the Super Six, the right-hander has played responsibly at the top.
Along with the calm Dimuth Karunaratne at the other end, Sri Lanka have had the best opening combination in the tournament, accounting for 609 runs, which includes three centuries and one 50-plus stand.
Sean Williams (ZIM)
600 runs @ 100, 50s - 2, 100s - 3; 3 wickets @ 41.66
Zimbabwe batter Sean Williams had a perfect tournament with the bat, notching up 600 runs in just seven innings. He took the bowling on when needed and at the same time, absorbed the pressure extremely well when required. His scores in the tournament read 102*, 91, 23, 174, 142, 56 and 12. Any other time, this could have been good enough to take the Cheverons over the line, but back-to-back defeats against Sri Lanka and then Scotland hurt their chances and eventually, for the second time in a row, they were denied a berth at the World Cup.
He was especially brutal against the spinners scoring 344 runs against them at a strike-rate of 160, dismissed just once.
Middle-order
Brandon McMullen (SCO)
364 runs @ 52, 50s 1, 100s 2; 13 wickets @ 17.53
Be it five-wicket hauls or centuries, Scotland’s latest find Brandon McMullen had a tournament to remember. Handed a surprise call-up at the T20 World Cup last year, McMullen, who idolises Jacques Kallis, opened the bowling for Scotland this season and batted at No.3, doing a terrific job with both roles.
McMullen picked the most powerplay wickets, scalping eight at an economy rate of 4.1. While he often walked into bat quite early in the innings, his start was a tad slow, but he made the opposition pay once in. His tons against Oman and the Netherlands were terrific examples of his appetite and not to forget, he rattled Ireland with a fifer in the first match as well. If there was a breakout tournament for the 23-year-old, this would be it.
Bas de Leede (NED)
285 runs @ 47.50, 100s 1; 15 wickets at 22.13
Bas de Leede chose the perfect time to bring his batting prowess into play. In a must-win knockout encounter against Scotland, the all-rounder walked in after a decent platform set as his side needed to chase down 278 in 44 overs to progress. Until then, de Leede had not done anything earth-shattering in the tournament. He had already picked up a five-wicket haul in the game. But this time, he had to step up to the plate with the bat. An overall career strike-rate in the 60s did not show encouraging signs, but this is a player who had the potential.
His monumental 92-ball 123 ensured that his side made it to the World Cup in India to complete one of the best all-round performances in an ODI. With the ball, he picked up at least two or more wickets in five out of the seven matches, often hurrying the batters with pace.
Sikandar Raza (ZIM)
325 runs @ 65, 50s - 1, 100s - 1; 9 wickets @ 29.77
The player of the tournament in the previous edition, Sikandar Raza’s wait to play another ODI World Cup continues. Zimbabwe were at their rampant best in the initial stages, easing to comfortable wins in their first five games. Raza had played his part scoring an unbeaten 102 against the Netherlands off just 54 deliveries to mark Zimbabwe’s fastest ton in the format. However, in the last two matches, against Sri Lanka and Scotland, Raza failed to pick up even a single wicket and his returns with the bat too wasn’t great.
When someone like Raza fails to make an impact in must-win matches, the team too falters. And that’s exactly what happened to Zimbabwe.
Captain & Wicketkeeper
Scott Edwards (NED)
314 runs @ 62.80, 50s 4; 12 dismissals
Ever since Scott Edwards took over as captain of the side after Pieter Seelaar’s sudden retirement, he has led he side with great distinction. The wicketkeeper-batter has since helped Netherlands qualify for the 2022 T20 World Cup, finished eighth in the main tournament with wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa, and has now contributed massively in helping the Dutch to yet another World Cup.
In the Qualfiers, Edwards scored four back-to-back fifties, finishing with over 300 runs. His monumental partnership with Teja Nidamanuru to help Netherlands beat West Indies in the group stages was a treat to watch indeed. His running between the wickets has been the highlight of the tournament, often pinching an extra run by putting the fielder under pressure.
His wicketkeeping has been near-perfect, inflicting 12 dismissals in the tournament.
Bowlers
Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)
22 wickets @ 12.90, Econ 5.11, 5WI 3
By the time batters could pick Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka had already booked their place in the World Cup! He bagged three consecutive five-wicket hauls, becoming only the second bowler to do do in ODIs. He was impeccable with his googlies and used the surfaces at both Harare and Bulawayo to good effects.
However, his leg-breaks were dispatched quite easily. Batters used sweeps and reverse sweeps to good effect against the spinner, scoring at a strike-rate of over 190 with those shots.
Maheesh Theekshana (SL)
21 wickets @ 12.23, Econ 4.02, 4WI 3
While Hasaranga hogs all the limelight, his teammate Maheesh Theekshana too should be commended for his brilliant bowling. After picking up just one wicket in the first two matches of the tournament, one might have thought that he perhaps will not have as much impact as Hasaranga. While Hasaranga got easier and easier to play, Theekshana’s mystery remained throughout the tournament. From there on, he picked up three or more wickets in all of the next five matches.
He bowled much lesser carom deliveries than regular off-spinners, but the former proved to be far more effective.
Chris Sole (SCO)
11 wickets @ 25, Econ 4.67
Perhaps the fastest bowler of the tournament, Chris Sole hit those hard lengths early in the innings and was rewarded with wickets. He along with McMullen ran riot in the opening 10 overs. While the batters had to contend with McMullen’s dibbly-dobbly 115 kmph away swingers, they had to deal with the raw pace of Sole, bowling at over 140.
The spell he bowled against Zimbabwe in a must-win encounter beating in-form batters like Williams and Craig Ervine for pace and cleaning them up was indeed a sight to behold. Overall, he hit the deck hard and bowled on the stumps or fourth stump line, which fetched him rewards.
Dilshan Madushanka (SL)
8 wickets @ 15, Econ 4
What makes Dilshan Madushanka’s entry into this team fascinating is that he has played just four matches in the tournament, having come in as a replacement for Dushmantha Chameera. He troubled the batters early on with his left-arm angle coupled with pace and swing. Seven of his eight wickets in the tournament have come in the first 10 overs. Only Sole (8) and McMullen (8) have picked up more wickets in this phase than the Sri Lankan pacer (7).
In the absence of Chameera and Lahiru Kumara, Madushanka certainly ensured that Sri Lanka did not miss their services much. He surely has to be in the talks for a spot in Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad in India in October-November.
Cricket.com team of tournament: Vikramjit Singh, Pathum Nissanka, Sean Williams, Brandon McMullen, Bas de Leede, Sikandar Raza, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Chris Sole
