Sri Lanka registered a thumping 79-run victory over UAE on Tuesday (October 18), giving their Net Run Rate a major boost in the T20 World Cup 2022 Qualifiers.
Their entry into the Super 12s will virtually be sealed with a victory over the Netherlands on Thursday (October 20).
However, the Lankan team suffered a major blow when ace pacer Dushmantha Chameera, who was instrumental in the victory over UAE, left the field during his last over due to calf discomfort.
According to Cricbuzz, Chameera's calf injury has ruled him out of the remainder of the marquee event. On Tuesday, he took three important wickets while giving away just 15 runs in 3.5 overs.
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Chameera had earlier missed the Asia Cup 2022 due to a calf injury, but he was eventually cleared to join the team for the World Cup.
Both pace bowler Pramod Madushan and batter Danushka Gunathilaka of the Island nation are sidelined with hamstring injuries, adding to the country's fitness concerns.
Apart from the injury woes, the team’s batting performance on Tuesday was also alarming. Seven batters got out before reaching double-digits and it was primarily on the back of responsible knocks from Pathum Nissanka (74 off 60 balls) and Dhananjaya de Silva (33 off 21 balls) that the team reached a respectable total of 152/8 in 20 overs.
To keep the reins of their own destiny, the 2014 T20 World Cup champions must defeat the Netherlands on Thursday (October 20).
(CRICBUZZ INPUTS)
