Wanindu Hasaranga’s record 5-wicket-haul guides Sri Lanka to Super Sixes in ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers

Ireland were knocked out of the ODI World Cup race after losing to Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.

Ireland folded for just 192 runs in 31 overs while trying to chase down 326 runs set by Sri Lanka at the Queens Sports Club in Harare.

Wanindu Hasaranga was the chief destructor for Sri Lanka and picked his third five-wicket haul in a row. Hasaranga equalled Pakistan legend Waqar Younis who to date was the only player in the ODIs to pick up three consecutive five-wicket hauls.

Hasaranga removed Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair and Joshua Little from the line-up. Ireland were given a fairly steep total but knew that they were batting on a good track. The team did not help themselves by three wickets early in the game and from there it was just a freefall as they tried to score quick runs.

Hasranga however, was expensive on the day, for the first time in the tournament, leaking away 79 runs from 192 runs scored by the Irish team.

Earlier in the innings, former Sri Lanka ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne guided Sri Lanka’s effort with the bat with his maiden ODI century. Karunaratne scored a run-a-ball century (103) before getting out in the 38th over of the match. Speaking after the game Karunaratne said that he wanted to score big after getting a start. He was given the player of the match award for the game.

“If I get a start, I want to go for the big one. In the morning, there was something for the bowlers, but when the swing stops we can get some boundaries. I was waiting for that, the first hour was about giving the bowlers respect. I try to apply the same technique, that is what has helped me score heavily in Test cricket…don’t try to hit them hard, just time them well,” Karunaratne said after the match.

Sri Lanka have won all of their matches in this tournament by big margin and said that the team was really confident. Shanaka did not do well with the bat on the day, but picked one wicket from his five overs.

“Everything goes in the right direction, but we could have done better with the bat towards the end. Probably big hitting from myself and Wanindu did not come off in the last two matches. I have to stand up in these situations.

We need to have a look at both options…we need to take a look at the bench and also take maximum points into the next round. Chameera is going to be key in the next round. We are very confident and are playing (according) to the conditions. We need to do well whatever the conditions here going forward,” captain Dasun Shanaka said at the presentation.