Sri Lanka warm up for qualifiers with massive win

Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis hit centuries as Sri Lanka warmed up for their Cricket World Cup Qualifier campaign-opener on Monday with a massive 198-run win over the United States of America in their warmup match in Bulawayo today.

Sri Lanka piled on 392 for 5 in 50 overs, with Dasun Shanaka and Charith Asalanka also contributing with unbeaten half-centuries.
 

USA got off to a bad start in the run chase, losing their openers with 10 runs on the board, both falling victim to Kasun Rajitha, before a partnership of 79 between captain Monank Patel and Aaron Jones gave the Americans some respectability.

Pathirana had Jones trapped leg before wicket triggering a collapse that reduces the USA to 106 for 7, the sling-armed bowler taking three more wickets.

Partnerships of 22 and 49 followed, but it was not nearly enough to get the Americans back in the game, bowled out for 194 in the 34th over.

Earlier, Pathum Nissanka fell with the score on 39, but a partnership between Karunaratne and Mendis steamrolled the USA.

Sri Lanka play their first Cricket World Cup Qualifier on Monday against the United Arab Emirates.

Scores
Sri Lanka 392/5 in 50 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 111 rtd., Kusal Mendis 105, Charith Asalanka 62 n.o., Dasun Shanaka 61 n.o., Saurabh Netravalkar 2/60).

United States of America 194 in 33.2 overs (Monank Patel 68, Shayan Jahangir 63 n.o., Matheesha Pathirana 4/23, Kasun Rajitha 2/28, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/32).