Sri Lanka have become the third team after Oman and Namibia to be officially knocked out of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and United States.
Following defeats in each of their first two games and a washout in their third encounter against Nepal in Florida, Sri Lanka needed a washout between Bangladesh and Netherlands in St. Vincent to stay alive in the tournament. A washout would have left both Bangladesh and Netherlands with three points each, in which case Sri Lanka would have had a mathematical chance to make it to the Super 8s, heading into the final round of fixtures in Group D.
But the completion of the fifth over of Netherlands’ chase — which ensured there would be a result in the contest, meaning one of Netherlands or Bangladesh would get to 4 points — officially knocked Sri Lanka out of the tournament.
This result draws curtains on a shocking T20WC campaign for the 2014 champions. They entered the tournament with optimism but got embarrassed in their first group game, getting bowled out for 77 against South Africa.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s side then lost a close encounter against arch-rivals Bangladesh. There, they suffered a fatal collapse, finishing at 124/9 after being 100/3 at one stage.
Sri Lanka, thus, have failed to make it to the final four of the T20 World Cup for the fourth straight edition. They last made the last four in 2014 when they ended up winning the trophy by beating India in the final.
Source: Cricket.com
