If team morales could be mathematically measured, those of Netherlands and Sri Lanka would currently turn out to be the polar opposite. Netherlands are on an unprecedented high. What transpired on the night of October 17, 2023 in Dharamsala will be preserved forever in the annals of Dutch cricketing history. Never before had they beaten a Test-playing nation in an ODI game. The fact that they did it against South Africa, a side that was deemed one of the strongest in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 before the game, would have been all the more special. (Scorecard | Full Coverage)
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Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have hit nadir with their third straight loss in the tournament. They are at the bottom of the points table with no points to show, and are the only side in the 10-team tournament to have no win under their belt. Their captain Dasun Shanaka has been ruled out of the tournament with a quadriceps tear, compounding the Lankans' woes. They now need to win all six of their remaining games to assure themselves of a spot in the last four.
In light of all this, one might consider the Dutch to start on even keel - perhaps even hold a slight edge due to momentum - with SL, but the equation may not be as straightforward at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, which has a history of aiding spinners. Like every other sub-continental outfit in the ODI World Cup, the Kusal Mendis-led SL have a strong set of spinners who can make the most of conditions, and they would be desperately hoping to do that and keep their hopes of semi-final qualification alive .
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Let's take a look at three key battles that could decide how the Netherlands Vs Sri Lanka match pans out in Lucknow:
Matheesha Pathirana Vs Scott Edwards
The conditions might be spinner-friendly in Lucknow, but in Matheesha Pathirana, Sri Lanka have a bowler who can make the conditions redundant with his searing yorkers. The 20-year-old fast bowler immediately reminds one of Lasith Malinga with his slinging action, and is indeed following in Malinga's footsteps. Up against him will be Netherlands captain Scott Edwards, who led from the front with a destructive unbeaten 78 in their remarkable win last game. The wicketkeeper-batter comes in to bat lower down the order, which means he is likely to face Pathirana's toe-crushers at the death. How he handles them could be pivotal to Dutch fortunes.
Maheesh Theekshana Vs Bas de Leede
Right-arm off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana has had a bright start to his ODI career, picking up 45 wickets from 29 games at an average of 25.33. He also has a low economy rate of 4.63 runs per over and the experience of playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. The 23-year-old will try to use that to his advantage against Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede, who is doing the job admirably so far with both bat and ball for his country. The Dutch player, who is also 23 years old, has 368 runs and nine wickets from his last nine games and has the ability to hit the big ones too when needed.
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Kusal Mendis Vs Logan van Beek
Kusal Mendis has been thrust into the captain's role following Shanaka's injury update. The wicketkeeper-batter also has the responsibility of anchoring the innings from No. 3 on top of it. But he has the temperament and the talent to shine with the bat, and that is what he needs to focus on for Sri Lanka's sake. He will have the deceptively sharp medium pace of Logan van Beek to contend with. The 33-year-old Dutch player was instrumental in getting his team to the World Cup with his all-round displays, and bagged the crucial wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller to rattle South Africa on Tuesday. The feisty bowler will look to make things difficult for Mendis, next.
