Sadeera Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 91 emerged as the guiding force in a challenging chase, steering Sri Lanka to a well-fought victory against a resilient Dutch side and finally putting points on the board. With this triumph, Sri Lanka joined the cluster of teams – Afghanistan, Netherlands, Bangladesh, and England – at two points after four games. Their ascent on the net run rate ladder, surpassing Afghanistan before England’s decline later in the day, lifted them from the bottom of the table.

Tasked with chasing down 263, Sri Lanka’s pursuit centered around crucial partnerships. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka initiated the recovery with a counter-attacking 30-ball 34 after the early loss of Kusal Perera. Subsequent substantial stands of 52, 77, and 76, with Samarawickrama playing a pivotal role, ensured Sri Lanka’s steady progress.

Despite a pitch favoring spin, Aryan Dutt shone as the standout bowler for the Dutch, finishing with figures of 3 for 44. Conversely, Sri Lanka’s seamers, Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka, wreaked havoc, both securing four wickets each.

The Netherlands, bolstered by a record seventh-wicket stand of 130 between Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek, managed to post a competitive total of 262. This partnership, following a top-order collapse against Sri Lanka’s seamers, showcased the Dutch lower order’s resilience for the second consecutive game.

Despite the early loss of talismanic captain Scott Edwards, Engelbrecht and van Beek orchestrated a remarkable recovery, taking their side from 91 for 6 to 221 for 7. The Dutch lower order, known for their rescue missions, displayed a masterclass in rebuilding and consolidation. With limited room for error, they prioritized batting out the full 50 overs, focusing on achieving a competitive total.

However, Samarawickrama’s innings proved decisive in the chase, preventing a collapse similar to Sri Lanka’s previous encounter against Australia. Partnering with Nissanka and later Dhananjaya de Silva, Samarawickrama ensured a controlled pursuit. Although Dhananjaya fell with only a few runs required, the game was effectively sealed. Dushan Hemantha’s boundary over long-on marked the winning runs, kickstarting Sri Lanka’s campaign in the tournament.