• Source:JND
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Sadeera Samarawickrama played a composed and unbeaten half-century to guide Sri Lanka to a clinical five-wicket win over the Netherlands, securing their first victory in the World Cup. South African-born Sybrand Engelbrecht (70) and Logan van Beek (59) led a remarkable recovery with maiden half-centuries to help the Netherlands post a fighting total of 262 after choosing to bat.

In response, Dutch off-spinner Aryan Dutt (3/44) claimed early wickets, but Sri Lanka remained on track with Samarawickrama anchoring their chase without taking any risks. Samarawickrama scored an unbeaten 91 and reached his well-deserved half-century in 53 balls. Pathum Nissanka contributed with 54 runs, and Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka had a crucial 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Despite Dutt breaking the partnership by dismissing Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva played sensibly and provided valuable support to Samarawickrama. De Silva eventually got out in the 47th over, but there were no further hiccups in the chase. Dushan Hemantha hit the winning runs, securing the victory with 10 balls to spare.

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South Africa-born Engelbrecht played a crucial role for the Netherlands with a gritty knock of 70, and Logan van Beek contributed 59 runs in their recovery. Despite the Dutch team making rapid progress after their seventh-wicket partnership, they couldn't post a substantial total. Kasun Rajitha (4/50) and Dilshan Madushanka (4/49) were the standout bowlers for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka secured their first win in the World Cup after three consecutive losses, providing them with a much-needed boost in the tournament. This victory was a result of a solid team effort, with both the bowlers and batters contributing to the success.

Engelbrecht's remarkable journey from playing in South Africa to representing the Netherlands in a World Cup added a unique storyline to the match. His experience and resilience played a vital role in the Netherlands' recovery during the match.

Sri Lanka's clinical performance in this game showcased their ability to chase down a target effectively, providing hope for their future matches in the World Cup.