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Last Updated : 2024-05-06 14:52:00
Dutch batsman Teja Nidamanuru believes it will not be an "upset" if his team defeat Sri Lanka on Saturday and keep alive their bid to reach the Cricket World Cup semi-finals.
After stunning South Africa by 38 runs on Tuesday for their first victory over a Test-playing nation at the 50-over global showpiece, the Netherlands turn their attentions to 1996 champions Sri Lanka.
The Asia side are the only country at the 10-team event without a victory following three demoralising defeats.
Sri Lanka beat the Dutch twice in the qualifying tournament staged in Zimbabwe but Nidamanuru says that will only fuel his team's ambitions on Saturday.
"We've competed against Sri Lanka multiple times in the qualifiers, and obviously we fell short in our batting side," he said.
"We've worked extremely hard on that so we are here to play well and win. I wouldn't call it an upset if I'm honest."
At the qualifiers, Sri Lanka came out on top by 21 runs and then 128 runs in the final.
Indian-born Nidamanuru was out for a duck in both those games although he cracked a century in the victory over two-time champions West Indies.
For Sri Lanka, spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga claimed 11 wickets between them in the games in Zimbabwe.
However, leg-spinner Hasaranga was ruled out of the World Cup through injury while off-spinner Theekshana has struggled to shake off a hamstring strain in India. He has just one wicket from two games.
"I think if we assess those two games that we played against Sri Lanka, it's our batting department that probably didn't live up to the expectation," admitted Nidamanuru.
"In the final, we kept them down to a good score, we could have chased that, but obviously their spin through the middle was something that troubled us."
Nidamanuru, 29, is desperate to get going with the bat at the World Cup.
So far he has scores of 5, 21 and 20 with his team losing to Pakistan and New Zealand before gaining their first win against South Africa.
"It's a little bit frustrating. Obviously, I'd love to be contributing more towards the team's success," he said.
"I personally feel good. I can feel that it's around the corner."
Another win on Saturday may help to push cricket a little higher up the sporting agenda in the Netherlands where it remains a mystery to large parts of the population.
"The cricketing community in the Netherlands is very small. I'd say in total there won't be any more than 5,000 odd people that play cricket," said Nidamanuru.
"But it's a close and tight-knit community because everyone knows everyone.
"The awareness of the game is growing which is a really huge positive for us, because quite often when you say play cricket, not many people know what that is." (AFP)
warren Friday, 20 October 2023 06:28 PM
Dear Nidamanuru, Do not have any fears, my friend. Our cricket team will gladly hand you a historic victory. Perhaps why not concentrate on creating a world record against Sri Lankans? It is not that hard!
Gaston Friday, 20 October 2023 07:12 PM
True. Only that Sri Lankan public are upset that we have a weak team and a stupid management
Wiraj Friday, 20 October 2023 07:34 PM
Well we Sri lankan's also won't be surprised if you beat our team. They are a spineless lot. Most of them are there due to the corrupt administrators.
Nirmal Friday, 20 October 2023 08:36 PM
Agree, it won't be an upset. I will be really surprised if SL wins one single game in this whole competition.
Ram Saturday, 21 October 2023 03:24 AM
In 1996 when we were cruising along with wins others would have commented upset win/s. Tonight we can see if the Dutch win against England is upset or set win
Nimal Saturday, 21 October 2023 03:08 PM
It will be miracle if we cannot continue our losing spree.
Navi Saturday, 21 October 2023 09:51 PM
Indeed. Another record for the Netherlands. Their batsmen put on 130 runs for the 7th wicket today against SL. Once again, our bowlers were not capable of choke Netherland when they were reeling at 92/6 and end up with 262 on the board. Wonders never cease against SL.
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