Sri Lanka won by 79 runs
PLAYER OF THE MATCH : Pathum Nissanka
Batter
Bowler
A low-scoring thriller followed by a one-sided encounter in Geelong today. UAE are all but out of the race for the Super 12s. The top two teams qualify for the next stage and NRR is highly likely to decide the positions in this group. Currently, Sri Lanka (+0.600) have a better NRR than Netherlands (+0.149) and a win should be enough for the Asian champions to progress. On that note, it's time to bring the curtains down. Join us tomorrow for the Group B double-header. Until then, goodbye...
Dasun Shanaka: They (crowd) are following us everywhere we go. I'd like to thank them. Really disappointed with the way we ended the innings (with the bat). We could have scored 180-190. The tone was set upfront, but Bhanu (Bhanuka Rajapaksa) and I didn't click. It was important to tick with a win, we focused on a win only. He (Pathum Nissanka ) is outstanding, his focus is to bat through the innings. I'm happy for him. (When asked about Chameera's injury) Hopefully everything will be fine.
Chundangapoyil Rizwan: We thought it was a decent score. We could have done a better job in the first innings while bowling, but we came back really well. We kept them under check. We thought it was a decent score to chase. (On Meiyappan) He bowled beautifully. To get a hat-trick in a WC is special. He's a special bowler. We play in hot conditions like 45 degrees. To play here, it's different. We are trying to adapt as much as possible. Our batsmen couldn't get going. They (SL) showed their experience. We have to work on our skills and try to come back with a better show.
Pathum Nissanka | Player of the Match: Along with Kusal, managed to get a good partnership and build a good innings. Happy to have played an innings like this in the World Cup and want to thank the crowd.
22:29 Local Time, 11:29 GMT, 16:59 IST: A dominating win for Sri Lanka and they needed this after the drubbing they received at the hands on Namibia in the tournament-opener. Barring the phase where they lost four wickets for three runs within seven balls, courtesy Karthik Meiyappan's hat-trick, the Islanders were pretty much on top throughout the game. Pathum Nissanka's 74 powered them to 152 and that turned out to be more than enough. With the ball, Dushmantha Chameera set the tone upfront with three quick wickets. He rattled UAE's top-order with pace and they couldn't recover from that. Wickets kept falling as UAE found the going tough both against pace and spin. Chameera and Hasaranga picked three apiece and the other bowlers chipped in as well. Sri Lanka will be worried about Chameera's injury though . Let's hope it isn't a serious one. Presentations coming up in a bit...
M Theekshana to Junaid Siddique, out Caught by Nissanka!! 97kph, flat length ball, Junaid Siddique clears his front leg to loft and hits it straight down long-on's throat. Nissanka, the half-centurion, fittingly catches to cap off the proceedings. Sri Lanka win by 79 runs. Junaid Siddique c Nissanka b M Theekshana 18(16) [4s-1 6s-1]
M Theekshana to Junaid Siddique, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
END OF OVER 17
10 Runs
UAE: 73 - 9
2 6 0 0 0 Wd 1
Junaid Siddique
18 (15)
Zahoor Khan
1 (1)
Dasun Shanaka
1.1-0-7-1
Shanaka to Junaid Siddique, 1 run, walks down the pitch to drive and inside-edges to short fine leg
Shanaka to Junaid Siddique, wide, slower ball bumper, too high and it's been wided for height
Dasun Shanaka [1.0-0-5-1] is back into the attack
Oh, Chameera is in some discomfort as he runs in to bowl. Let's hope it isn't a serious one. He's hobbling off the field now. Not a good sign for Sri Lanka, this. He shakes his head walking off the field. The skipper will finish the over...
Chameera to Junaid Siddique, no run, slower ball, Junaid Siddique spots it late and defends it out to point
Chameera to Junaid Siddique, no run, back of a length ball outside off, Junaid Siddique connects with thin air again
Chameera to Junaid Siddique, no run, slower delivery, Junaid Siddique is early to swing his bat and misses. The ball bounces over the sticks
Chameera to Junaid Siddique, SIX, wow! That's a monstrous strike. Full delivery on the stumps, Junaid Siddique clears his front leg and swings it high and over deep mid-wicket for a 109m six! Siddique flexes his muscles. He certainly enjoyed it. The ball landed on the roof!
Chameera to Junaid Siddique, 2 runs, very full, the batter stays back and drills it to long-off
Dushmantha Chameera [3.0-0-7-3] is back into the attack
END OF OVER 16
7 Runs
UAE: 63 - 9
1 1 4 0 0 1
Junaid Siddique
9 (9)
Zahoor Khan
1 (1)
Maheesh Theekshana
3-0-15-1
M Theekshana to Junaid Siddique, 1 run, full in length, driven to sweeper cover
M Theekshana to Junaid Siddique, no run, spins away from a short of length, goes past Junaid Siddique's defensive outside edge
M Theekshana to Junaid Siddique, no run, 95kph, quicker one, Junaid Siddique looks to play across the line and misses to be rapped on the pads. Appeal for lbw and that's been struck down. Sri Lanka decide to send it upstairs. No bat confirmed by UltraEdge. Over to ball-tracking and it's clipping leg (umpire's call). The onfield call stays...