Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
The scoreboard speaks for itself
This is a day the Netherlands will never want to remember as they were bowled out for the lowest score in Twenty20 International history during their nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in Chittagong.
Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews and spinner Ajantha Mendis were the standout performers as they both picked up three wickets.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal would have been jumping for joy with his decision to bowl first as Netherlands opener Stephan Myburgh was caught by Lasith Malinga at third man off the bowling of Nuwan Kulasekara for a duck.
Michael Swart was also dismissed for a duck as he was caught behind off the bowling of Mathews.
Mathews struck again the very next ball as Wesley Barresi was caught by Chandimal at cover for one run.
Netherlands captain Peter Borren became the third batsman to be dismissed for a duck when he was given out lbw off the bowling of Mathews.
Ben Cooper only made eight runs before he was run out by Thisara Perera.
Tom Cooper managed to score 16 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Mendis.
Logan van Beek failed to have an impact either as he was clean bowled by Malinga for one run.
Mudassar Bukhari fared no better as he was cleaned up by Malinga for four runs.
Pieter Seelar scored three runs before he was caught by Mathews at slip off the bowling of Mendis.
Netherlands were bowled out for the lowest total in Twenty20 International history when Ahsan Jamil was given out lbw off the bowling of Mendis for a duck.
Mendis and Mathews picked up three wickets apiece, while Malinga snapped up two and Kulasekara chipped in with one.
Chasing just 40 runs to win, Sri Lanka got off to a brisk start before Kusal Perera was caught by Swart at mid-on off the bowling of Jamil for 14.
There was no more drama to follow as Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene wrapped things up with ease.
Jamil was the only bowler to take a wicket.
Borren was disgusted with his team’s performance, and said: “[We] Let a few people down. It was just us representing the Associates and we’ve got to do a lot better. Everything was a bit of a rush. It’s not the first time the top-order has played at this level and it’s not been this bad. Obviously Myburgh was going to play that way, but down the order it was quite bad. It was always going to be a struggle for the lower order against Mendis and Malinga.
“[I’m] Surprised by the result, not something we saw coming but we have three more chances. The guys up in the dressing room are very embarrassed and hopefully we can show you guys in the next few games of what we can really do. We’re constantly striving for more fixtures and more funding and this sort of performance doesn’t help. It’s gonna have to improve, I don’t really know what else to say.”
Chandimal could not believe how deadly his bowling attack had been, and said: “We bowled really well. Angelo gave us a good start and Malinga and Ajantha finished it off. I’m very happy. We won’t be underestimating any team. We have two more games and we’re keeping our fingers crossed to win them as well. Happy with Dilshan getting a few runs. Hope he continues throughout the series.”
Mathews was named Man of the Match, and said: “[The] Pitch was a little two paced and all the bowlers came into the party. [I] Landed it on the correct spot and built the pressure and that’s what I did. Regardless of being captain or not, I have to give my 100% and that’s what I do. The bowling has been pretty good in the recent past. We just want to keep winning and see what happens.”