ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers Shanaka targets maximum points despite qualifying for Super Six

Sri Lanka may have sealed passage into the Super Six round of the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers, but their clash against Scotland in Bulawayo today could prove a key result in the bid to make the final of the tournament.
With two wins out of two, Sri Lanka are atop Group B, sealing their place in the next round with Sunday’s win over Ireland – Scotland and Oman also joining them in the next round.
Teams that qualify for the Super Six round will carry forward the points gained against the other two teams that progress from the group, effectively meaning this match could have implications on where either team ends in the next round.

Sri Lanka currently hold the edge in the points table with a significantly higher net run rate, but defeat will see Scotland move ahead.
While Sri Lanka could be tempted to toy with the idea of making some changes, though Shanaka reiterated on Sunday that points remain the target.
“We need to take a look at the bench and also take maximum points into the next round,” Shanaka said after the win against Ireland.
It could offer Sri Lanka the chance to bring in Dushmantha Chameera, who was deemed unfit for the first three games of their campaign.

“Chameera is going to be key in the next round and we need to have a look at him. We are very confident and are playing to the conditions. We need to do well whatever the conditions here going forward,” Shanaka said.
Instrumental to Sri Lanka’s success is spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who took a third consecutive five-wicket haul against Ireland, taking his tally of wickets in the series to 16.
In Sri Lanka’s opening match of the tournament, Hasaranga took 6 for 24 against the UAE, before returns of 5 for 15 
against Oman.

Against Ireland he took 5 for 79, equalling Waqar Younis’ record of three successive five wicket hauls, set 33 years ago.
A five-wicket haul today will make Hasaranga the first bowler in history to take four consecutive five wicket hauls.
Another area that has been particularly pleasing to Shanaka is the batting, where Dimuth Karunaratne has anchored the Sri Lankan innings with three scores of 50 runs or more – the last of those his first ODI century.
“...as soon as he came in, he settled in and he has got the experience, playing Test cricket and domestic cricket. He is an ideal candidate to have at the top of the order,” Shanaka said of Karunaratne.  
(SMD)