Sri Lanka
Former champions Sri Lanka overcame initial difficulties and thrashed Namibia by seven wickets to make their quest for a place in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup here on Monday.
Sri Lankan bowlers dominated the inexperienced Namibian line-up after inviting them to bat, bundled them out for 96 and then chased down the target with 6.3 overs in the first-round Group A match.
The Namibian players, despite the loss, accounted for themselves well as they refused to be intimidated by an experienced team that was once a force in world cricket.
Namibians made some waves by getting rid of Pathum Nisanka (5), Kusal Pera (11) and explosives Dinesh Chandimal (5) Inside the overs of the powerplay.
However, Avishka Fernando (30) and the talented Bhanuka Rajapakse (42) carried on with their confident innings to propel the 2014 champions.
While Fernando relied more on placement and timing, Rajapaksa was striking at full force, as both paid off for any hope the Namibian would have entertained after the opening strikes.
Rajapaksa finished the match with a six from pacer John Frylink as Sri Lanka joined Ireland on two points after the first day of matches in Group A.
For Namibia, spinner Bernard Scholtz (1/16) who bowled a tight line, Ruben Trumpelmann (1/27) and JJ Smit (1/7) took wickets.
The Sri Lankan opener could not go through with the aggressive Perera’s attempt to clear the in-field as Smit took a fine catch to give Trumpman a wicket.
Nissenka fell lbw at the hands of left-arm spinner Scholtz and Dinesh Chandimal’s poor innings was ended by Smit, giving him an edge at the keeper.
Earlier, spinners Mahesh Thekshana (3/25) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2/24), one of the world’s top spinners, proved to be too hot for the Namibian batsmen, who sought to find a way out of the Lankan attack. struggled.
The fast bowlers also did a good job keeping the opposition batsmen in a tight grip.
Only three Namibian batsmen reached the double digit mark when they were sent out to bat.
In the face of some tough bowling by the Lankan fast bowlers, they could not score as fast as they wanted.
Openers Stephen Byrd (7) and Jane Green (8) fell within the powerplay, scoring only 30 runs, with Thekshana dismissing both.
Craig Williams (29 off 36 balls) and captain Gerhard Erasmus (20 off 19 balls) shared a 39-run stand for the third wicket.
However, Namibia were reduced to 84 for 6 in the 16th over after falling to Erasmus pacer Lahiru Kumara.
Veteran all-rounder David Wiese, who was to be expected, lasted only seven balls and was sent back by pacer Chamika Karunaratne (1/17). Sri Lankan players wore black armbands during the match as a tribute to former captain Bandula Varnapura, who passed away earlier in the day.
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