Zimbabwe is doing a pretty good job in hosting the qualifiers for the ICC World Cup 2023. Their own team is leading the chart of Group A – while articulating this piece – with 4 points against. However, what’s making news is Oman facing Sri Lanka next in their attempt to stay at the top spot of Group B.
Oman has played two matches, winning both of them for a total of four points. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has played only a single match to win two points. Hence, the Lankan army is second on the list right now. Defeating Oman will get them two more points. Depending on how well they finish the match, it will further affect their net run rate and probably take them above Oman.
However, looking at the table closely, it is safe to assume that the one-time ODI world cup winner will easily climb the ladder, for they already have an NRR of +3.500 in comparison to Oman’s +0.368. That is a direct courtesy of clicking a massive 175-run win over the UAE.
The 2-Win Confidence Of Oman
Oman has so far defeated Ireland and the UAE by 11 balls and 24 balls, respectively. They were found chasing the target easily despite losing five wickets in both matches. That makes it obvious that there is a rising strength in the middle order led by the skipper, Zeeshan Maqsood. He was most recently credited with scoring 59 runs off 67 balls. That came downhill sharply against the UAE when Rohan Mustafa landed the ball in the middle and got LBW in response to Zeeshan missing the shot for a sweep.
Nevertheless, Shoaib Khan and Mohammad Nadeem carried on the task of chasing the target of 228. Each scored an unbeaten 52 runs and 50 runs with a strike rate of less than a hundred.
Jay Odedara has a total of 4 wickets to his name. The first one came against Ireland in the name of Harry Tector, and the remaining wickets came against the UAE. The bowling unit is also led by Bilal Khan, with the same number of wickets, two in each match.
Fighter Sri Lanka
No one can simply choose to ignore what Sri Lanka brings to the table in ICC tournaments. They are qualifying as favorites per most of the top cricket betting sites; the question is by how many wins.
Currently ranked second in Group B with a single match played, Dasun Shanaka’s men will next meet Oman in Queens Sports Club on June 23, 2024, at 12:30 pm IST. What makes them ideal for advancing to the next stage of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Qualifiers is their highest NRR in the group. Assuming they land a win over Oman, they will have four points which are equivalent to the opponent but a higher NRR to be ranked above them.
Sri Lanka last faced the UAE to register a massive win of 175 runs. Wanindu Hasaranga picked up six economical wickets in just eight overs at an average of 3 runs per over. That’s not all; Wanindu also powered up his batting innings at the strike rate of 191.67 to bring up 23 runs more on the board. The stage was set by the top five batters, with the top four returning to the pavilion with a half-century. The highest was scored by Kusal Mendis before Ali Naseer’s throw was shot and then caught by the man at deep square leg.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka and Oman meet at Queens Sports Club on June 23, 2024, at 12:30 pm IST for Group B’s event. This marks the 11th event of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Qualifiers.
