• Hasaranga whacks five consecutive sixes

In their first of the two warm-up games, ahead of the ninth ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies, Sri Lanka lost by 20 runs against the Netherlands at Central Broward Park, Lauderhill, Florida, USA on Monday (28).

Sent in to bat first, the Netherlands set a formidable target of 181 for five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 160 in their 19th over.

Sri Lanka rested key bowlers, skipper Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, and Dushmantha Chameera, probably avoiding to expose them to the Dutch batters as the two countries are to meet again in the tournament proper, at St. Lucia on 16 June in a Group Stage encounter. 

Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers, Nuwan Thushara and Dilshan Madushanka, both struggled to contain the Dutch batsmen.

Dunith Wellalage stood out in his four-over spell, conceding just 26 runs while taking one wicket.

Sri Lanka, in their reply, lost five wickets for mere 59 runs in seven hours.

Pathum Nissanka (5), Kusal Mendis (4), Kamindu Mendis (5), Charith Asalanka (12) and Angelo Mathews (15) all got out cheaply.

Yet Dhananjaya De Silva (31 in 22 balls), Hasaranga (43 off 15) and Dasun Shanaka (35 not out in 20) kept the game live until Sri Lanka were 124/6 by 14 overs.

The highlight of the Lankan innings was the five consecutive sixes hit by Hasaranga.

Yet Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets in tandem, falling short by 20 runs in the end.

Sri Lanka's next warm-up match will be against Ireland at the same venue tomorrow (31).

Brief scores:

Netherlands 181/5 20 overs (Michael Levitt 55 in 28 balls;

Dilshan Madushanka 2/39 in 4 overs)

Sri Lanka 161 all out in 18.5 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 43 in 15; Aryan Dutt 3/20)