Karthik Meiyappan’s hat-trick in vain as Sri Lanka beat UAE across the board

UAE beaten by Sri Lanka at T20 World Cup (Courtesy: @ICC/Twitter)

The Asian champions’ morale was boosted after a humiliating defeat to Namibia in their opening match.

Sri Lanka are now third in the standings with two wins from two games. The UAE are bottom of the table with zero points, having lost both games.

After chasing 153 games, the UAE got off to a nightmarish start as pacemaker Dushmanta Chameera destroyed the top order, Muhammad Waseem (2), Aryan Lakra (1) and captain Chundangapoyil Rizwan (1) left the UAE early, Racked at 4.2 at 3/19.

The UAE’s misery was not over as Pramod Madhushan blocked his stump after 14 runs from Chirag Suri. The UAE are over 5.3 points at 21/4.

At the end of the power game, UAE won 23/4 in six matches, with Basil Hameed and Vriitya Aravind unbeaten in two matches each.

The Middle East side continued to lose early wickets after a strong game, losing Basil Hameed (2), wicketkeeper-batter Vriitya Aravind (9), Kashif Daud (0) and Karthik Meiyappan (4). The UAE fell to 52/8.

Hasalanga continued to excel in the match, picking up his third victim, Aayan Afzal Khan. He scored 19 of 21 balls. The batsman did his best to keep one end steady, but Hasalanga’s spin rattled his stump.

Theekshana delivered the final blow to the UAE, sacking 18-year-old Junaid Siddique. He was later caught by Pathum Nissanka. The UAE were tied with 73 points and lost the game with 79 points.

Spinner Hasaranga is the SL’s main bowler with 3/8 in four overs. Chameera also scored 3/15 out of 3.5. Theekshana took two wickets while Shanaka and Madhushan took one each.

With the UAE batting first, Sri Lanka’s openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gave their team a solid start. The pair struck a good balance between finding clearance and keeping a good run between the wickets.

Their 42 runs ended on 28 balls when spinner Aryan Lakla trapped Mendis’ legs on 18 of 13 balls in front of the wicket.

Next, Dhananjaya de Silva joined Nissanka. The pair led SL in the remaining strong games without any further damage, finishing 6 rounds at 52/1 with Silva (8*) and Nissanka (25*) unbeaten.

The pair put forward their 50-point run and Silva closed the next ball after 33 of 21 balls were used up by wicketkeepers CP Rizwan and Afzal Khan.

Then came broken-leg spinner Karthik Meiyappan, who turned the game around by scalping Bhanuka Rajapaksa (5), Charith Asalanka (0) and captain Dasun Shanaka (0) for the first hat-trick of the game.

Momentum then shifted to the UAE, with SL at 117/5.

Aayan Afzal Khan also got a big wicket from all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (2) to drop the SL to 120/6.

Nissanka has held steady at one end, boosting his half-century on 45 balls. His 30 overs with Chamika Karunaratne (8) put SL at 152/8 in their 20 overs.

Nissanka was dismissed on the second ball of the final inning after scoring 74 on 60 balls including six fours and two sixes. Pramod Madushan and Dushmantha Chameera remain unbeaten on 1*.

Karthik Meiyappan finished with a 3/19 stat. Zahoor Khan went 2/26 in four rounds. Aryan and Aayan each took a wicket.

Brief score: Sri Lanka: 152/8 in 20 rounds (Pathum Nissanka 74, Dhananjaya de Silva 33, Karthik Meiyappan 3/19) over UAE: 73/10 (Aayan Afzal Khan 19, Junaid Siddique 18, Wanindu Hasaranga 3/8) via 79 runs.