Hey there, cricket fans! Whether you’re a die-hard follower who’s glued to every ball or just someone dipping your toes into the exciting world of cricket, I’ve got a treat for you. Today, we’re diving into one of those matches that had everything – explosive batting, clever bowling, and a bit of drama under the lights. I’m talking about the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 showdown between the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Match Scorecard. This Group D encounter went down on June 16, 2024, at the picturesque Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.
Picture this: It’s a balmy Caribbean evening, the crowd buzzing with anticipation, and two teams fighting not just for points, but for a shot at glory in the Super Eights. Sri Lanka, the island nation with a rich cricket heritage, were under pressure after a rocky start to the tournament. The Netherlands, those plucky underdogs from Europe, were dreaming of an upset to keep their slim qualification hopes alive. Spoiler alert: It was Sri Lanka who came out on top, winning by a whopping 83 runs. But don’t worry – I’ll break it all down in simple terms, like we’re chatting over a cup of tea (or a Lion beer if you’re feeling festive).
In this article, we’ll stroll through the teams’ backgrounds, relive the match play-by-play, and of course, lay out the full scorecard in a handy table. By the end, you’ll feel like you were right there in the stands. Let’s get into it!
The Teams: Lions vs the Flying Dutchmen
First off, a quick intro to our stars of the show. Cricket isn’t just a game in Sri Lanka – it’s a way of life. The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team, nicknamed the “Lions,” has a trophy cabinet that sparkles with a 1996 World Cup win, multiple Asia Cups, and a Test championship. They’re known for silky spinners like Muttiah Muralitharan (the all-time wicket king) and flamboyant batters who can turn a game on its head. In 2024, under the steady hand of captain Wanindu Hasaranga, they were rebuilding after some inconsistent form. Key players? Think Angelo Mathews, the evergreen all-rounder with more experience than most grandpas, and young gun Charith Asalanka, who can smack boundaries like nobody’s business.
On the flip side, the Netherlands National Cricket Team – or the “Flying Dutchmen” – are the ultimate comeback kids of world cricket. They’re not a traditional powerhouse, but they’ve punched above their weight, stunning giants like South Africa in past World Cups. Led by the sharp Scott Edwards, their squad blends Dutch discipline with global talent (many players have roots in South Africa or England). Standouts include Max O’Dowd, a reliable opener, and all-rounder Bas de Leede, who’s as handy with bat as he is with ball. For the Dutch, every match is a David vs. Goliath story, and they play with that fearless energy.
These two sides have history – remember the 2023 ODI World Cup where Netherlands gave Sri Lanka a scare? But T20s are a different beast: fast, furious, and full of twists. Heading into this game, Sri Lanka needed a win to salvage pride, while Netherlands had to chase a miracle (win big and pray for other results). The pitch in Gros Islet? A beauty – true bounce, short boundaries, perfect for a high-scoring thriller.
The Toss and Early Vibes
Toss time: Netherlands win it and, unsurprisingly, choose to bowl first. Why? Dew was expected later, making chasing easier, and they fancied their pace attack on a fresh pitch. Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera stride out, the air thick with cheers. The Dutch bowlers, led by the lanky Aryan Dutt and fiery Logan van Beek, circle like hawks.
Right from ball one, it felt like Sri Lanka meant business. No cautious prodding here – they were going for the jugular. But cricket’s a funny old game, and early wickets can swing moods faster than a pendulum.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Fireworks: Building the Innings
Sri Lanka’s innings kicked off with fireworks and a few fumbles. Nissanka, looking sharp after a lean tournament, faced the new ball confidently. He flicked van Beek for a couple of boundaries through mid-wicket, signaling intent. Perera, the dasher from the golden era, joined the party, pulling short balls with that trademark swagger. By the end of the powerplay (first six overs), Sri Lanka were 50/0 – a solid platform, but Netherlands stayed calm, rotating their seamers.
Then came the twist: In the seventh over, Dutt – the left-arm spinner – struck gold. He trapped Perera lbw with a straight one that nipped back. Perera reviewed it, but the Decision Review System (DRS) was unforgiving. Out for 15 off 15 balls. Enter Kamindu Mendis, the middle-order magician. He and Nissanka steadied the ship, rotating singles and punishing loose deliveries. Nissanka brought up his fifty with a classy drive past cover – his first in the tournament, and the crowd erupted.
But Netherlands fought back. Bas de Leede, bowling tidy lines, got Mendis caught at deep mid-wicket for 24. Suddenly, at 10 overs, Sri Lanka were 85/2. Captain Hasaranga promoted himself, but it was Angelo Mathews who stole the show next. The veteran, at 37, played like a man half his age, lofting spinners over long-on and carving pacers through point. He and Nissanka added 50 in quick time, pushing the score to 135/2 at the halfway mark.
Nissanka fell shortly after, bowled by Tim Pringle for a classy 49 off 35 – just one short of a fifty he’d have cherished. In came Charith Asalanka, the calm anchor. But the real fun started in the death overs. With Netherlands leaking runs, Asalanka unleashed – a helicopter six off van Beek had shades of young Rohit Sharma. Mathews, ever the finisher, clobbered a few more boundaries before holing out for 30 off 16.
Hasaranga, the skipper, joined the late surge, smashing 20 off 9 with a massive six to cow corner. Dasun Shanaka added a quick 7, but it was Maheesh Theekshana who capped it with a cheeky four. Sri Lanka finished at 201/6 in 20 overs – their highest T20 World Cup total since 2012. Extras? Just 7, showing discipline. Netherlands’ fielding had slips – a dropped catch here, a fumble there – but credit to Sri Lanka’s batters for capitalizing.
Man of the moment? Angelo Mathews, no doubt. His knock wasn’t just runs; it was a reminder of why experience trumps youth sometimes. The total looked daunting – 10 an over on a good pitch – but in T20s, anything’s possible.
Netherlands’ Chase: A Bridge Too Far
Chasing 202? Tall order for anyone, let alone against Sri Lanka’s spin web. Netherlands opened with Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd, both aggressive starters. The pitch still held spice, and Sri Lanka’s attack – Hasaranga, Theekshana, and firebrand Matheesha Pathirana – was primed.
Early blows: Nissanka, from the slips, snapped up Levitt off Pathirana for a duck. Pathiranga’s slingy action bamboozled the left-hander with bounce. O’Dowd looked good, driving Hasaranga for a four, but the required rate crept up. At 6 overs, Netherlands were 35/1 – right on track, but pressure building.
Enter the middle order: Vikramjit Singh joined O’Dowd, and they pushed to 60/1 by 8 overs. But Hasaranga, the wizard, struck twice in an over. He foxed Singh with a googly (lbw for 15), then castled O’Dowd (26 off 24) with a quicker one. Netherlands 60/3. Panic stations.
Sybrand Engelbrecht, the veteran, tried to rebuild with Colin Ackermann. They added 30, but Maheesh Theekshana – turning it square – broke through, bowling Ackermann for 13. Pathirana returned, his yorkers like heat-seeking missiles. He cleaned up Engelbrecht (20 off 22) with a 150kph toe-crusher. Netherlands slipping to 90/5 in 14 overs.
Bas de Leede, the all-round hope, fought valiantly, smashing Hasaranga for a six. But the required rate? Over 15 an over now. Scott Edwards, the skipper, scratched around for 1 before Theekshana trapped him plumb. Aryan Dutt added a few, but Pathirana’s bouncer did for de Leede (34 off 23) – caught at deep square leg.
The tail folded quickly: Logan van Beek skied one to long-off off Hasaranga (duck), and Paul van Meekeren reviewed a caught-behind off Pathirana – but DRS showed it was off the thigh. Still out for 0. Tim Pringle hung around for 11*, but it was all over at 118 all out in 16.4 overs.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were clinical: Pathirana (3/17), Hasaranga (3/22), Theekshana (2/19). Netherlands’ batters showed fight, but the target was Everest-high. A valiant de Leede earned some plaudits, but it wasn’t enough.
The Full Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance
To make things super easy, here’s the complete match scorecard in a table. I’ve kept it straightforward – no jargon, just the facts. Batsmen’s scores, bowlers’ hauls, and fall of wickets. Print this out if you want to relive it!
Sri Lanka Innings (20 overs maximum)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P. Nissanka | b Pringle | 49 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 140.00 |
| K. Perera | lbw b Dutt | 15 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 100.00 |
| K. Mendis | c van Beek b de Leede | 24 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 92.31 |
| A. Mathews | c Edwards b van Beek | 30 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 187.50 |
| C. Asalanka (c) | not out | 46 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 219.05 |
| W. Hasaranga (c) | not out | 20 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 222.22 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 3, nb 0, b 0) | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (6 wickets) | 201 | (20 ov) | – | – | 10.05 rr |
Did not bat: D. Shanaka 7(5), M. Pathirana, M. Theekshana, D. Madushanka Fall of wickets: 25-1 (Perera, 5.5 ov), 85-2 (Mendis, 10.1 ov), 135-3 (Nissanka, 15.3 ov), 155-4 (Mathews, 17.2 ov), 170-5 (Shanaka, 18.1 ov), 185-6 (Madushanka, 19.1 ov)
Bowling for Netherlands
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. van Beek | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 | 3 | 2 |
| A. Dutt | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8.00 | 3 | 0 |
| B. de Leede | 3 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 9.67 | 2 | 1 |
| T. Pringle | 4 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 8.75 | 2 | 1 |
| P. van Meekeren | 2 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 12.00 | 2 | 1 |
| B. Glover | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 | 3 | 0 |
| C. Ackermann | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 | 1 | 0 |
Netherlands Innings (Target: 202 runs from 20 overs)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Levitt | c Nissanka b Pathirana | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| M. O’Dowd | b Hasaranga | 26 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 108.33 |
| V. Singh | lbw b Hasaranga | 15 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| S. Engelbrecht | b Pathirana | 20 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 90.91 |
| C. Ackermann | b Theekshana | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 108.33 |
| B. de Leede | c sub (Madushanka) b Pathirana | 34 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 147.83 |
| S. Edwards (c) | lbw b Theekshana | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| A. Dutt | c Mathews b Hasaranga | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| L. van Beek | c Mendis b Hasaranga | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| P. van Meekeren | c †Perera b Pathirana | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| T. Pringle | not out | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 137.50 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 7, nb 0, b 0) | 9 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (all out) | 118 | (16.4 ov) | – | – | 7.10 rr |
Fall of wickets: 0-1 (Levitt, 0.2 ov), 60-2 (Singh, 8.3 ov), 60-3 (O’Dowd, 8.4 ov), 90-4 (Ackermann, 12.5 ov), 90-5 (Engelbrecht, 13.2 ov), 95-6 (Edwards, 14.3 ov), 110-7 (Dutt, 15.3 ov), 110-8 (van Beek, 15.4 ov), 114-9 (de Leede, 16.1 ov), 118-10 (van Meekeren, 16.4 ov)
Bowling for Sri Lanka
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Pathirana | 3.4 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 4.72 | 1 | 0 |
| D. Madushanka | 3 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 | 3 | 1 |
| M. Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 4.75 | 1 | 0 |
| W. Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 22 | 3 | 5.50 | 1 | 1 |
| D. Shanaka | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15.00 | 2 | 0 |
| A. Mathews | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15.00 | 2 | 0 |
Key Moments That Swung the Game
Cricket’s magic is in the moments, right? Let’s rewind to the game-changers:
- The Powerplay Push: Sri Lanka’s 50/0 set the tone. Nissanka’s boundaries off van Beek forced early field changes.
- Hasaranga’s Double Strike: Two in one over – Singh and O’Dowd gone. That 60/3 scoreline was the nail in the coffin.
- Asalanka’s Assault: His 46 off 21 turned a par score into a mountain. That six over deep mid-wicket? Pure class.
- Pathirana’s Pace: The 21-year-old slingy bowler terrorized with three wickets, including the big one of de Leede. His celebration? Infectious energy.
- Missed Reviews: Netherlands burned a DRS on van Meekeren – struck down. Small margins, big impacts.
These snippets show how T20 balances skill and luck. Sri Lanka adapted; Netherlands couldn’t.
Player Performances: Stars of the Show
- Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka): 30 off 16, plus tidy overs. Mr. Reliable strikes again.
- Charith Asalanka: 46* – the glue that held the innings.
- Wanindu Hasaranga: 20 with the bat, 3/22 with ball. Captain fantastic.
- Matheesha Pathirana: 3/17 – death bowling masterclass.
- Bas de Leede (Netherlands): 34 off 23 – lone warrior in the chase.
For Netherlands, it was a tough day, but Engelbrecht’s retirement post-match added poignancy. The 36-year-old bowed out with grit.
What It Meant: Beyond the Scoreline
This win was Sri Lanka’s biggest in T20 World Cups by runs (83), eclipsing their 82-run thrashing of Zimbabwe in 2012. But for both teams, the tournament ended here – Bangladesh’s win over Nepal sealed it. Sri Lanka headed home reflecting on “what ifs,” while Netherlands can hold heads high for competitive cricket.
Lessons? Adaptability wins games. Sri Lanka’s lower order clicked; their spinners choked the chase. For Netherlands, fielding errors cost 20-30 runs. As Hasaranga said post-match, “Pitches are the same for both – it’s about changing our game.”
Wrapping Up: Why This Match Matters
There you have it – a rollercoaster of a match that showcased cricket’s global charm. Sri Lanka’s 201/6 to Netherlands’ 118 all out isn’t just numbers; it’s stories of resilience, skill, and that unbreakable team spirit. Whether you’re 10 or 100, cricket unites us in its unpredictability.
