SL vs NED Match Preview- ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Match 12

The 12^th match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 will have the Netherlands take on Sri Lanka on Friday at Sharjah International Cricket Stadium. The two teams have played against each other once in T20 World Cup 2014.

Sri Lanka won that game comfortably by 9 wickets. On Friday, the two teams will take on each other for the second time in a perennial tournament. Here’s a look at how both these two sides have performed thus far in the competition.

SL vs NED Match Preview- ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Match 12

Sri Lanka

Of all the teams played in the qualifying round, Sri Lanka has looked the best. They have played two matches and won both of them. They began their campaign with a clinical seven-wicket win over Namibia.

Mystery spinner, M Theekshana picked three wickets for 25 runs to help Sri Lanka bundled out Namibia for a paltry total of 96 runs. Lahiru Kumara and W Hasaranga also chipped in with two wickets each.

Sri Lanka didn’t make a great start to the chase as they had lost three wickets for just 26 runs inside the powerplay. However, unbeaten knocks from Avishka Fernando (30 off 28) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (42 off 27) guided Sri Lanka home in 13.3 overs.

Sri Lanka exhibited another brilliant performance in the next game against Ireland, winning the game by 70 runs. Riding on sensational knocks from Pathum Nissanka (61 off 47) and W Hasaranga (71 off 47), Sri Lanka posted a par score of 171 runs in 20 overs.

After Sri Lanka had lost three wickets for just 8 runs in the first two overs, Nissanka and Hasaranga led the team’s recovery and stitched a match-winning 123-run partnership. As a result of that, Sri Lanka finished their innings at 171 runs.

Mystery spinner, Maheesh Theekshana, once again, produced a brilliant spell in the second innings. He removed Ireland’s best batsman Paul Sterling in the third over of the innings and then accounted for the wickets of Curtis Campher and Neil Rock to deny Ireland gain any momentum.

The other bowlers too bowled great lengths and didn’t allow Ireland to stitch partnerships. Andrew Balbirnie scored 41 off 39 but there was little contribution from another end. They were eventually bundled out for a paltry 101-run total.

Netherlands:

The Netherlands are guilty of showcasing below-par individual performances in the tournament. They played two matches and lost both of them. Barring Max ODowd, no other batsmen has looked good in the middle. Max ODowd scored a half-century in the last game but despite that, Netherland only managed 106 runs against Ireland. Ireland chased down the score in just 15.1 overs.

The Netherlands played their last game against Namibia. Riding on another stellar 70-run knock off 56 balls from Max ODowd, the Netherlands managed 164 runs in the first innings. Ackermann (35 off 32) also gave great support to Max ODowd, while Scott Edwards unbeaten 21-run cameo off 11 balls helped the team get the late flourish.

The likes of Seelar, Fred Klaasen and Ackermann picked a wicket each in the first 10 overs of the second innings to have complete control of the game. However, a sensational 66-run knock from David Wiese ruined all hopes for the Netherlands. His knock ensured Namibia chased down the target with an over to spare.

The Netherlands are out of the race for the Super 12s but would be wanting to end their campaign with a win on Friday.