The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup group stage continued to heat up on Monday, June 17th, with three enthralling matches.
New Zealand Crushes Papua New Guinea:
New Zealand kicked off the day in Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago by resting Papua New Guinea in a remarkably largely one-sided contest. Batting first, NZ emerged with a mere scorecard of 79/3 in 12 overs. At eleven points two balls were delivered, and they were out on seventy-eight runs having lost three wickets. The top New Zealander fast bowler Lockie Ferguson got some very important early scalps.
Papua New Guinea never found a rhythm in its chase. They would eventually be bundled out at just 78 runs, after falling to the pressure of the big stage. Furthermore, Ferguson put in another great performance taking an outstanding 4-wicket haul conceding only 12 runs earning him the Player of the Match award. It has put New Zealand in a good position to make it into the Super 8 stage which they should capitalize on.
Sri Lanka Thrashes Netherlands:
The following match held at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground (Saint Lucia) featured Netherlands versus Sri Lanka as participants where the Sri Lankan batters showcased their might by managing to score 201 runs off six wickets within 20 overs. A great half-century by Charith Asalanka earned him the “Player Of The Match” award with his breathtaking performance stealing all fans’ hearts away.
The Netherlands’ reply was an uphill battle. Despite some spirited resistance, their batting faltered against a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack. They were eventually dismissed for a paltry 118 runs, handing Sri Lanka a convincing 83-run victory. This win keeps Sri Lanka in contention for a spot in the Super 8 and showcases their batting depth.
Bangladesh Edges Past Nepal in a Low-Scoring Encounter:
The last match of the day at the Arnos Vale Stadium in Saint Vincent and Grenadines produced an exciting match with low scores in which Nepal played Bangladesh. Batting first, Bangladesh only managed to get 108 runs due to being all out in 19.3 overs. Nepal just presented outstanding control and variations with the ball under the stewardship of their impressive Sandeep Lamichhane.
Though Nepal was unable to chase down the modest target with its batting woes continuing to haunt them and thus falling short by 21 runs. Arguably the player of the match was Tanzim Hasan Sakib as a result his vital wickets had a great impact hence earning Bangladesh a win. This win means that Bangladesh still stands a chance for qualification into super 8s; on the contrary, Nepal has much work out for if they are to change anything during their next games.
