World Cup Qualifier: Nissanka century books Sri Lanka's ODI World Cup 2023 spot

Pathum Nissankas unbeaten 101 propelled Sri Lanka to a spot in this years ODI World Cup 2023 to be held in India as the 1996 winners trounced hosts Zimbabwe by nine wickets on SundaySri Lanka had bowled out Zimbabwe for a modest 165 inside 33 overs and Nissanka never gave the hosts a hope of victory with his superb innings lifting Sri Lanka to 169 for one in their Super Six stage matchHowever Zimbabwe can still qualify if they beat Scotland on TuesdaySri Lankas bowlers had performed admirably in skittling the hosts out man of the match Maheesh Theekshana taking 425Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka said it was crucial for them to be at the sports quadrennial showpieceAnother former winner West Indies will not be a part of the prestigious tournament for the first time after losing to Scotland on SaturdayAlso Read World Cup Qualifier All is not lost says Jason Holder after West Indies lossIt was a muchneeded thing for Sri Lanka to play on that big stage said ShanakaSee coming for the qualifiers Its always tough but still if you go through the processand we knew with the team weve got we were going to qualify for the World CupThe Zimbabweans had been up against it from the start after being put into bat by Shanaka and were left tottering on 303 due to a stunning opening spell by Dilshan MadushankaZimbabwe had prided themselves on getting through the first 10 overs in the previous matches in the tournament virtually unscathed they had lost just the one wicketHowever a firedup Madushanka gave them a rude awakening reducing them to 82 beginning by dismissing Joylord Gumbie for a duck and then Wessley Madhevere for oneHe snapped up the key wicket of captain Craig Ervine for just 14 the 37yearold with over 100 ODI appearances for the hosts nicking the ball to wicketkeeper Kusal MendisVery good cricketSean Williams and Sikandar Raza steadied the ship only after the former had escaped when Matheesha Pathirana dropped a simple chance off MadushankaThey put on a fluent partnership of 68 but just as they were hitting their boot straps Raza on 31 holed out to Madushanka off the bowling of Shanaka to leave the hosts 984 They recovered briefly thanks to 19 including three sixes coming off a Dhananjaya overWilliams brought up his half century with a beautifully executed four in Shanakas next over However his elation was to turn to despair soon afterwards Shanaka made an inspired bowling change bringing on Theekshana for his second spell in place of the expensive Dhananjaya and with just his fifth ball bowled Williams for 56Theekshana struck again dismissing Burl for 16 with a similar type delivery to reduce the hosts to 1306 and it became 1447 when he trapped Luke Jongwe lbw for 10The Zimbabwe tail failed to wag with the unpredictable Matheesha Pathirana taking two of the remaining three wickets in one overErvine said despite the heavy defeat they would stick to their gameplan for Tuesdays matchI dont think we need to prepare any differently from what we have been doing in this tournament against Scotland said ErvineWe have been playing some very good cricket Sri Lanka were much better than us todayWith AFP inputs