Theekshana spins Sri Lanka to comprehensive win
Sri Lanka overcame a brief stutter at the top and a 74-run fourth wicket partnership took them home
Sri Lanka overcame a brief stutter at the top and a 74-run fourth wicket partnership took them home
Scorer: Venkat Raghav | Commentator: Hemant Brar
So, two point for Sri Lanka and a pretty healthy net run rate, given they won with 39 balls to spare. That's all from our side for this game. See you soon.
Dasun Shanaka: We were planning quite a lot. We want to get through this qualifying stage. All well went for us. Theekshana has been outstanding. He has been training with Ajantha Mendis back home and has a lot more to offer in the future. Our fast bowlers earlier had the pace but not the execution but going forward you can see a lot of good things. We talked with our master, Mahela, and realised batting top of the order, Avishka didn't have great numbers so we decided to bat him at No. 4. Winning all three games will definitely put us in a good state of mind, adjusting to conditions will help in the main tournament.
Gerhard Erasmus: We have to take the positives. We have to regroup as two very important games are coming up. I think Sri Lanka have a quality bowling attack. With 96 on the board, you have to say batsmen need to come to the party and I back our bowlers to defend. It's a pinnacle for many of the players and for the organisation as well. We can inspire a lot of kids by playing at the world stage.
Maheesh Theekshana is the Player of the Match for his 3 for 25. "I am really happy to represent the country," he says. "It's a huge moment for me as I am just 21. My stock ball is the offbreak. I would like to represent my country in more games but I plan game by game." A man of few words but plenty of tricks.
9.05pm A convincing win for Sri Lanka in the end despite early jolts. Their bowlers set it up by restricting Namibia to a mere 96. Sri Lanka had a wobbly start to their chase - they were 26 for 3 - but Rajapaksa and Avishka added 74 in 8.2 overs in an unbroken stand for the fourth wicket to see them home. Namibia tried eight bowlers but it didn't help much. A bit of thinking to do for them before their next game.
Just six required now. Frylinck to bowl. Around the wicket
Sri Lanka overcame a brief stutter at the top and a 74-run fourth wicket partnership took them home
"He analyses not only our team, but the oppositions' weaknesses - he sees the game in a unique way" - Shanaka on Jayawardene
Namibia have won 18 of their 22 T20Is, while Sri Lanka have enjoyed a stellar warm-up run ahead of their opener
First Round Group A | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
SL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3.754 |
NAM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -0.523 |
IRE | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.853 |
NED | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.46 |
First Round Group B | |||||
Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
SCOT | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0.775 |
BAN | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1.733 |
OMA | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.025 |
PNG | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -2.655 |
Group 1 | |||||
Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
ENG | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2.464 |
AUS | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1.216 |
SA | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0.739 |
SL | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -0.269 |
WI | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -1.641 |
BAN | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -2.383 |
Group 2 | |||||
Team | M | W | L | PT | NRR |
PAK | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 1.583 |
NZ | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1.162 |
IND | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 1.747 |
AFG | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1.053 |
NAM | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -1.89 |
SCOT | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | -3.543 |