Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has continued his excellent bowling form in another crucial Group Stage game of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 against Ireland. His another five-wicket haul destroyed the Irish batting line-up where Hasaranga became the only second bowler in ODI history to record a five-wicket haul in three consecutive innings.
Sri Lanka – 325 runs in 49.5 overs
Last Sunday (25 June), the Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) hosted Sri Lanka vs Ireland match in the Group B contest. After Ireland chose to field first, Sri Lanka scored 325 runs in 49.5 overs. While the opener Dimuth Karunaratne scored his first ODI century (103 off 103 balls; eight fours), Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 82 off 86 balls (four fours) before losing his wicket.
Also, middle-order batters Charith Asalanka (38 off 30 balls; one four and two sixes) and Dhananjaya de Silva (42 not out off 35 balls; four fours and one six) had some powerful contributions with the bats.
Among the Irish bowlers, Mark Adair bagged four wickets (4/46), Barry McCarthy collected three wickets (3/56), and Gareth Delany (2/52) sent two Lankan batters back to the pavilion.
Ireland – 192 in 31 overs; Wanindu Hasaranga – 10-0-79-5
In reply, Ireland were all out for 192 runs in 31 overs. Only Curtis Campher (39), Harry Tector (33), George Dockrell (29 not out) and the last batter Josh Little (20) reached the 20-run mark in that chasing.
Sri Lankan leggie Wanindu Hasaranga, who already claimed five-wicket hauls in the last two ODIs (six wickets against UAE – 6/24; five wickets against Oman – 5/13), recorded his third consecutive ODI five-wicket hauls by finishing with the bowling figures of 10-0-79-5. Despite conceding the most runs in an innings in his ODI career, he dismissed the Irish skipper Andy Balbirnie (12), Harry Tector (33), Gareth Delany (19), Mark Adair (4) and Josh Little (20).
Waqar Younis was the first bowler
In November 1990, Pakistan right-arm fast bowler Waqar Younis became the first bowler to record three consecutive five-wicket hauls in ODI career.
Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – three consecutive ODI five-wicket hauls
6.4-2-11-5 vs New Zealand at Peshawar (4 November 1990)
6-1-16-5 vs New Zealand at Sialkot (6 November 1990)
8-0-52-5 vs West Indies at Karachi (9 November 1990)
More than 32 years later, Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga joined the party by equalling Waqar’s record ODI achievement. The leggie still has the chance to break this record and become the first bowler to manage five-wicket hauls in four consecutive ODI innings.
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) – three consecutive ODI five-wicket hauls (can extend this record)
8-1-24-6 vs UAE at Bulawayo (19 June 2023)
7.2-2-13-5 vs Oman at Bulawayo (23 June 2023)
10-0-79-5 vs Ireland at Bulawayo (25 June 2023)
Even if Hasaranga claims at least a four-wicket haul in his next ODI innings, he will become the first bowler in ODI history to manage four consecutive ODI four-wicket hauls. With his latest achievement, Hasaranga became the 12th cricketer (14th time) to record three consecutive four-wicket hauls in ODI cricket history.
