Sri Lanka vs U.A.E., 3rd Match, Group B at Bulawayo, CWC Qualifier, Jun 19 2023 - Match Result

3.59 pm Well that was a swift collapse. The final margin will show 175 runs. In reality, UAE were very much in this chase for 30 overs but the tail was spun out rapidly with the last five wickets falling for 13 runs. From 167 for 5 to 180 all out. That shows what happens when a team has a quality leggie at their disposal, whether he is bowling against an Associate or a Full Member lineup. Sri Lanka have been notorious bullies against Associate opposition and the final margin only reinforces that reputation.

Wanindu Hasaranga is named Player of the Match for his career-best 6 for 24, not to mention 23 not out off 12 balls with the bat at the end of the first innings. "I'm really happy. This is my 50th wicket I take today and this five-for make me really happy. When we were batting, the wicket was really good. When we were bowling, the ball gripped a little bit so that was the benefit we have. On this kind of wicket, I always try to bowl wicket to wicket. Especially on this wicket if you bowl at the stumps, you always have a chance to get wickets. Our batters played really well. 354 on this kind of wicket, that was a brilliant score. Kusal played really well and Sadeera played really well. Dimuth and Pathum started really well. At the end of the innings with myself and Charith, we ended up with a really good score."

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem: "We started well. We were looking for some early wickets but we did not get early wickets and did not bowl well in the middle as well. Moisture was there on the pitch (in the first hour) but they played very well. I thought we can restrict them to 260 to 270 but we did not bowl well in the last half of the innings. We started well (in the chase) when myself in Vriitya was batting. We thought we can do this, but after that when I lost my wicket and suddenly we collapsed again. [On Ali Naseer] He is a great talent and the future of the UAE, but if he played all 50 overs he can score much more."

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka: "We've been playing well in the recent past. Placing qualifiers is always special but we don't take pressure when we play cricket. I would still have bowled first. The first 5-6 overs, it always does something. We have two good fast bowlers, Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara, so our plan is to get early wickets with them and then our spinners come into the game so that's how I would like to operate. [On the top order] They've been outstanding, Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka, in the recent past. Dimuth comes into the game and and he carries the game to the middle overs. That's a key area we could have done better. That's the key to success. I would like to see my two fast bowlers getting wickets up front with the movement. Today we got a wicket with a short ball. We could have bowled in that right area a bit and got a couple of wickets. I think that's the key. And Hasaranga, we know he is going to do the job always. [On the short ball plan] I think with the surface, we need to try our short balls. As the tournament progresses, we need to go with the right plan."

So that's it for today's coverage of this match, but there's still another barnburner of a chase going on across the city. Oman are in hot pursuit and currently favorites chasing a target of 282 against Ireland. They need 32 off 45 balls with six wickets in hand so by all means click over to the commentary feed of that game being led by Ashish Pant. On behalf of Deivarayan Muthu, I'm Peter Della Penna. Take care!

Two slips and a leg gully in now for the last man Jawadullah as Hasaranga switches around the wicket for the lefty.

Usama: "Hasaranga will be leading wicket taker in this tournament, mark my words." He's got a few overs left to cement what would be his first ODI five-for.