Sri Lanka has earned their spot in the highly anticipated Cricket World Cup 2023 following a commanding nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the qualifier match held at Bulawayo’s Queen’s Sports Club. This triumph sets up an exciting encounter against Pakistan on October 12 in Hyderabad, India.
By clinching victory, Sri Lanka accumulated eight points in the Super Six stage of the preliminary tournament, ensuring their qualification for the World Cup. Consequently, Pakistan is now scheduled to face Sri Lanka on October 12 in a thrilling match set to take place in Hyderabad.
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While Sri Lanka’s qualification is now confirmed, Zimbabwe still has an opportunity to secure their place in the World Cup. With six points, they remain in contention but must defeat Scotland, who currently possess four points, in their final match on July 3 to secure a spot in the tournament.
During the qualifier match against Zimbabwe on July 2, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first. The Sri Lankan bowlers put on an impressive display, restricting Zimbabwe to a total of 165 all out in just 32.2 overs. Off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana delivered an exceptional performance, achieving career-best figures of 4-25, while Dilshan Madushanka claimed 3-15.
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Chasing a modest target, Sri Lanka confidently cruised through their innings without encountering any major challenges. They comfortably reached the target with 101 balls to spare, courtesy of Pathum Nissanka’s outstanding batting performance. Nissanka showcased his skills by scoring his second One-Day International century from 102 balls, ultimately guiding his team to a resounding victory.
Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, expressed his belief in the team’s ability to qualify for the World Cup and acknowledged the strong performances of other teams in the tournament. As they solidify their position at the top of the Super Six table and reflect on their status as the 1996 World Cup champions, Shanaka foresees Sri Lanka emerging as one of the top contenders in the upcoming tournament.
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Pakistan’s ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule:
October 6: vs Qualifier 1 in Hyderabad
October 12: vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad
October 15: vs India in Ahmedabad
October 20: vs Australia in Bengaluru
October 23: vs Afghanistan in Chennai
October 27: vs South Africa in Chennai
October 31: vs Bangladesh in Kolkata
November 4: vs New Zealand in Bengaluru (Day match)
November 12: vs England in Kolkata