Sri Lanka finish ODI WC qualifier with spotless record after bowlers script big win in the final
Netherlands folded for 105, after being 49 for 6 at one stage, despite chasing a modest target
Netherlands folded for 105, after being 49 for 6 at one stage, despite chasing a modest target
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
3:45pm The Dutch and Sri Lankan players pose together in front of the 'Namaste India' hoarding, and there is plenty of camaraderie between the two sides. And with that, it is time for us to also bid adieu for the day. Hope you enjoyed our coverage of this final as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. Until next time, goodbye and take care!
3:43pm Sri Lanka lift the trophy and the celebrations will start now. They have been spotless at this tournament, and deserve every bit of this success. The heart goes out to the Netherlands too, who fought tooth and nail throughout but just could not put their best foot forward today. Both of these teams will be at the World Cup later this year, though, and if they can produce performances like they have done in Zimbabwe, they will be tough propositions to tackle.
Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka captain: (Plans before the tournament) Prior to this tournament, we had a good series against Afghanistan. Coming here, everyone in our team wanted to prove that we are a better side than to play the qualifiers. We wanted to put up our best performances. Only concern was injuries. Apart from that, we had full control in every game and in every situation. The top order, middle order, the bowlers - everyone performed very well. (On the spinners) For a while, I have been playing with them so I know the time when to use them. Chris and Mahela was there to support us. We prepare the plans pretty early. Even in the World Cup, they will play a big role for Sri Lanka. (On how his team dealt with pressure) There was pressure but none of the other management, or myself allowed the pressure to come to the team room. That was the best thing. The environment was really good and it helped for the mentality and eventually, the performance. (What this means to Sri Lanka) We never wanted to play a qualifier tournament and that is what the rest of the boys believe. Playing the qualifiers puts pressure and winning it is a big thing (for us). I want to thank Cricket Zimbabwe for organizing this tournament, and all the Zimbabwean fans, Sri Lankan fans in Zimbabwe and all our supporters around the world.
Scott Edwards, Netherlands captain: (How he reflects on the entire tournament) Obviously it is a high-intensity tournament. Pretty proud of the way the boys have played. We have played good cricket for a majority of the games and excited about the next few months. (On today) Credit to our bowlers, we kept them to a score that we felt we could chase. We had to play their spinners better and we did not do that. (On the positives from the tournament) The way the guys got around each other, the culture in the group has been amazing. Zimbabwe is a beautiful place to be and that has helped us. Our batters have been good throughout the tournament. Guys stepped up when they had to and that is why we are heading to India. (Any particular moment that was the turning point) That West Indies chase - we took a lot of confidence from that. Even chasing 280 in 44 overs, we sort of had the blueprint from that WI game. that was a turning point for us and we kept the ball rolling from there. (On what it does for Dutch cricket) It is obviously massive for our guys and for our supporters back home. The opportunity to play in a ten-team World Cup is massive for us. We will lap it up and hopefully put in a few good performances there (in India).
Sean Williams is the Player of the Tournament! Sikandar Raza collects the award on his behalf.
Dilshan Madushanka, Player of the Match: (On his role in the team) Happy to be the Player of the Match in the final. I have been trusting my basics and trying to take wickets with the new ball. That is my role and I am trying to do that. I have learnt a lot from Kasun Rajitha and he has helped me a lot.
Let's hear from the captains at the post-match presentation.
Chris Silverwood, Sri Lanka head coach: (Ticking off all the pre-tournament goals) First goal was to qualify and we did it. Second was winning the tournament and we have fortunately done that as well. We can go home happy. (What he has learnt) Our game-plan moving forward, we managed to build on that. The confidence that we have shown in this tournament, we can take it into the World Cup.
Wanindu Hasaranga: (On the bowling performance in the tournament) Before we came here, we had a good series against Afghanistan. Our bowlers bowled really well and they carried that momentum into this tournament. (On his plans today) We saw when we batted how the wicket was. As a bowling unit, we tried to bowl stump-to-stump and I tried to do the same as well. (On what he will take back from this tournament) I want to take this momentum into the World Cup in India. Our bowlers have played a lot of games in India in the last two years and we know how the wickets behave. This qualifier tournament has helped us a lot.
3:10pm Well, that was as dominant a display as Sri Lanka have produced all tournament. At the half-way stage, it felt that they were a few runs short. But their bowlers rose to the occasion, and did so in grand fashion. Madushanka rocked the Netherlands early, picking up Vikramjit and Barresi. Hasaranga then got into the act, bamboozling Nidamanuru. Thereafter, it was a bit of a procession, with the Dutch batters simply having no answers to Sri Lanka's spinners. Theekshana, who opened the bowling, also picked up his second successive four-wicket haul and kept the batters guessing throughout.
As for the Dutch, well, they would not be happy with how this particular game has gone. But this tournament overall was definitely a success for them. They will be in India in a few months' time, playing for the prize that matters in ODI cricket and will be the only non-Test playing nation to be there. That alone tells you how gargantuan this achievement is, and do not let today's performance blur what they have accomplished in Zimbabwe.
C Floyd lbw b Theekshana 9 (6m 7b 2x4 0x6) SR: 128.57
Around the wicket now
Sri Lanka need to work on their batting in the death overs while Netherlands could do with some fixtures in the subcontinent, and a sponsor or two won't hurt
Netherlands folded for 105, after being 49 for 6 at one stage, despite chasing a modest target
Positivity, diversity, respect for opponents, and a captain who quietly puts his head down to get the job done have all been part of the story