T20 World Cup: Namibia shock Sri Lanka in opening game

Namibia all-rounder JJ Smit smashed an unbeaten 31 disconnected 16 balls arsenic helium helped his broadside accelerate astatine the backmost extremity of the innings

Namibia, ranked 14th successful the world, shocked Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka to triumph by 55 runs arsenic the Men's T20 World Cup started successful spectacular fashion.

In reply, Sri Lanka, who are eighth successful the world, were bowled retired for 108.

Namibia's lone different triumph implicit a Test federation was against Ireland successful 2021.

Netherlands play the United Arab Emirates successful Group A from 09:00 BST.

Scotland and Ireland's campaigns commencement connected Sunday, erstwhile they look West Indies and Zimbabwe respectively successful Group B.

The apical 2 sides from each radical suffice for the Super 12s, which commencement connected 22 October. The victor of Group A and runner-up from Group B volition look England.

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Sri Lanka flatter to deceive but Namibia impress

Sri Lanka, who are led by erstwhile England caput manager Chris Silverwood, came into the tourney successful Australia arsenic immoderate people's extracurricular stake for the rubric due to the fact that of their awesome Asia Cup triumph conscionable 5 weeks ago.

However, the conditions are precise antithetic to those faced successful the United Arab Emirates, and aft a bully commencement with the ball, creaks started to appear.

Their fielding was tidy enough, but their bowling, some enactment and length, became ragged arsenic the Namibia innings progressed and they were enactment nether unit by Frylinck and Smit, who some understood the request to deed straighter overmuch amended than their team-mates.

They deed six fours and 2 sixes betwixt them, but earlier that it had been a tepid batting show from Namibia, with small powerfulness oregon guile to find the boundary.

The subordinate federation were superb with the shot from the get-go though, and their catching and crushed fielding was faultless throughout.

Nicol Loftie-Eaton took a superb drawback astatine heavy mid-wicket to disregard Wanindu Hasaranga, earlier Michael van Lingen was speedy disconnected the people to tally retired Pramod Madushan.

Left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz claimed 2-18, gait bowler Ben Shikongo - who had an lbw reappraisal for a hat-trick turned down - took 2-22 and Frylinck 2-26.

The effect means Sri Lanka volition realistically request to triumph some of their remaining games - perchance by ample margins due to the fact that of the effect this effect volition person connected their nett run-rate - to basal a accidental of qualifying for the Super 12s.

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