The 2022 T20 World Cup kicked off with a shocker as Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka suffered a debilitating 55-run loss to underdogs Namibia in the morning fixture of the T20 World Cup Group A in Geelong on Sunday, October 16. Chasing a target of 164, the Sri Lankans were put under pressure by the Namibian bowlers from the get-go as they found it tough to score crucial runs in the middle overs.
Complete Namibian bowling
It was a complete bowling performance led by veteran Bernard Scholtz, who was one of the three batters to bag two wickets but had a brilliant economy rate of 4.50 in his four overs. But most of the credit will go to youngster Ben Shikongo, who bagged the wickets of opener Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka in one wicket leading to a collapse of their middle-order batting attack.
Shikongo was well supported by another veteran David Wiese, who is continuing his heroics from the 2021 T20 World Cup. He dismissed the dangerous Kusal Mendis for just six runs. It was then in the hands of Scholtz and Jan Frylinck, with the latter rightly adjudged the Player of the Match after performing with the bat as well. Wiese then wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings after dismissing Dushmantha Chameera in the 19th over.
Sri Lankan batting collapse
Despite the presence of heavy hitters like Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga on their side, it was massively surprising that neither of the batters shone with the bat. While Hasaranga scored just four runs off eight balls, Rajapaksa was slow with 20 off 21. Just when he wanted to begin firing his team to victory, a misfired shot off Scholtz's bowling was caught by Divan la Cock.
Only skipper Dasun Shanaka kept the match going to a certain extent for Sri Lanka, with his 29 runs off 23 balls, but Jan Frylinck got the breakthrough for his team. After this, it was smooth pickings for the Namibian bowlers.
Outrageous death bowling by Lankans
The target for Sri Lanka would have been comparatively lesser if their death bowlers were better with the ball. Led by Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit, the Namibians went from 93 for 6 to 163 for seven in five overs courtesy of Frylinck's 44 off 28 balls and Smit's 31 off 16 balls, with the latter striking the ball at a brilliant rate of 193.77.
The Lankans were also hit by injury concerns, with Asia Cup hero Dilshan Madushanka ruled out with a torn quad muscle. He has been replaced by Binura Fernando.
