Sri Lanka thrash Netherlands by 9 wickets

Sri Lanka delivered a thumping performance by defeating the Netherlands by nine wickets after bowling them out for the lowest-ever Twenty20 International total in a Group 1 match of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here Monday.

Put in to bat, minnows Netherlands were bowled out for a dismal 39 in only 10.3 overs which the two-time runners-up chased down with 15 overs to spare to go to the top of the group with four points from two matches.

This is the biggest win in T20Is in terms of number of balls to spare. The Dinesh Chandimal-led side are now all but through to the semifinals of the competition.

The experienced Sri Lankan bowling attack devastated the Dutch batting order. Pacer Nuwan Kulasekara started their downfall by clinching the first wicket that of Stephan Myburgh (0) on the third ball of the match. He bowled a total of two overs, both maidens.

The other nine wickets were clinched by Angelo Mathews (3/16) from his four overs, Lasith Malinga (2/5) from his two and Ajantha Mendis (3/12), who finished off the Dutch innings.

The only Dutch batsman to get into double figures was Tom Cooper (16), who hit two of the three boundaries of the entire Netherlands innings.

In reply, Sri Lanka reached 40/1 in just five overs with opener Kusal Perera the only wicket to fall in a soft dismissal.