Namibia have kicked off the T20 World Cup with a 55-run belting of Sri Lanka to give the associate nation a chance of advancing to the Super 12 stage.
They silenced the boisterous, pro-Sri Lankan crowd with an outstanding all-round performance on Sunday at Kardinia Park.
The African minnows upstaged their more-experienced rivals by belting their bowlers to make 7-163 before ripping through the Sri Lankan batting line-up to rout them for just 108.
As disciplined as Namibia were, Sri Lanka were terrible only a month after winning the Asia Cup.
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Sri Lanka won the toss and looked in control, especially when off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana had David Wiese caught behind for a golden duck.
Ben Shikongo appeals for a wicket. (Photo by Daniel Pockett-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
That left Namibia in major strife at 6-93 from 14.2 overs.
Jan Frylinck and JJ Smith rescued them with a 70-run rapid-fire partnership. Frylinck hit four boundaries in his 44 from 28 deliveries while Smith racked up two fours and a couple of sixes in his 31 off 16.
Namibia’s rally rolled into the start of the Sri Lankan innings, with 22-year-old fast bowler Ben Shikongo on a hat-trick in the third over.
He dismissed opener Pathum Nissanka and then Danushka Gunathilaka in his double-wicket maiden over to have Sri Lanka reeling at 3-21.
Sri Lanka started their run-chase poorly to be 4-40 in the seventh over and Bhanuka Rajapaks (20) and Dasun Shanaka (29) were the only batters to put up any resistance as they fell well short.
David Wiese (2-16), Bernard Scholtz (2-18), Ben Shikongo (2-22) and Frylinck (2-26) were the destroyers for the victorious underdogs.
Sri Lanka’s poor day started badly when promising young left-arm paceman Dilshan Madushanka was ruled out of the tournament. The 22-year-old has a torn quad muscle and Binura Fernando, who did not play on Sunday, has taken his place in their Cup squad.
The result puts Namibia in the box seat to progress through the qualifiers and reach the Super 12 stage of the tournament, while Sri Lanka must now beat UAE and the Netherlands in their group.
Eight teams, including traditional heavyweights Sri Lanka and West Indies, are vying for the final four spots in the Super 12 draw. UAE and Netherlands are in Group A with Sri Lanka and Namibia with the Windies joined by Scotland, Ireland and Zimbabwe in Group B.
UAE took on the Netherlands in the second match of the double-header at Geelong.
After the UAE scraped their way to 8-111, the Dutch were cruising at 3-71 before faltering and then scrambling four singles from the final over to win with just one ball and three wickets to spare.
The Super 12 stage gets under way next Saturday with Australia hosting New Zealand at the SCG.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I really detest the bigger countries, us included, not putting back in. England, India and Australia could be taking in a few of these players into FC comps and blooding their up n comers. ------- Also the gap has got bigger and we're seeing the countries split into 3 tiers with WI, NZ, SL, SA, Pakistan in the middle. And then further back Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, etc. I'd just like to see full blooded competition borne of each of the countries supporting the development of the newer teams especially the less fortunate. I know it's pie-in-the-sky stuff but it's our game. We should nurture it. But it's a crazy world out there. I try to inject sanity wherever l go.
Rellum
Roar Guru
To me the ICC has to make heavy investments in these countries and the older struggling ones to bring them up to a high level. The new ones over a period of time, the old ones more quickly. I don't think they should be allowed to have just t20 cricket money. Of course that relies on a complete restructure of world cricket and the ICC having the balls to tell the BCCI and CA to get in line
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'd say, "yes and no" re ICC FC investment. "Yes" it would be good to see FC develop further in these nations, but "no" in that I'm not sure it's going to achieve much of a result in the face of burgeoning T20 opportunities. I'd say that if the ICC were to focus it's investment in FC, it would be to sandbag FC in the traditional members - SL, WIN etc - where those countries that already have the FC structure in place, are nonetheless having their FC structures rapidly undermined.
Rellum
Roar Guru
None of these Nations do. That is why the ICC needs to invest in their FC setups
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Namibia doesn't have the depth/time commitment in FC to become a Test nation. But yes, they produce talent that can go on the T20 mercenary circuit to then come back and make an impact for the national side. Namibia was the team I enjoyed watching most (in terms of taking it up to the Full Members) during last year's WC and I suspect that will be the case this WC as well. Their top tier batters and bowlers can match it with the best.
Rellum
Roar Guru
An Africa Continent FC/OD comp? nice Matt. That allows them to have a few teams but play some talented teams. Maybe two tiers
matth
Roar Guru
Fair call. We need to work on getting sone first class cricket, maybe against Zim or SA provinces
13th Man
Roar Rookie
England have done ok with half their team being non native...
Redcap
Roar Guru
I played with Tom Cooper at the South Lismore Cricket Club many moons ago. Yes, very much an Aussie and played for Australia at U/19 level. His younger brother Ben has also played quite a bit for the Netherlands by way of their mother being a Dutch citizen.
The Bush
Roar Guru
You can also make the same argument with the Dutch, Tom Cooper is playing and have you heard their captain Scott Edwards speak? He sounds very Australian. That's exactly my point though, as I said: They strike me as being reliant on the decent rules like the Netherlands and thus unlikely to ever really progress. Considering the Netherlands has never progressed, being reliant on all these non-native players, it's hard to see Namibia doing any better...
Rellum
Roar Guru
They should get ODI status very soon it we want them to be a Test nation at some point. If we leave it at T20, their batting techniques will never be good enough for long form cricket
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Namibia have far more talent than the Netherlands currently, and regardless if a number of them are from the RSA, you could say the same about England! You can also make the same argument with the Dutch, Tom Cooper is playing and have you heard their captain Scott Edwards speak? He sounds very Australian.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, I can certainly see where you are coming from as I expect that if the soft signal was "not out" that Tucker would have given the batter not out. The system is set up such that it is hard to overturn an on-field soft signal. Which is often a guess based upon the reaction of players.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Ireland and Afghanistan would absolutely make their best players available for it. They'd be mad not to. Those countries playing Australia A would still be a bigger test than them playing each other I suspect.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Well obviously I disagree with you strenuously, but there we are.
mrl
Roar Rookie
errr…yeah…
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Yours wear lingerie?
mrl
Roar Rookie
errrr…no…
The Bush
Roar Guru
Out of interest, why is Namibia the next cab off the rank? Netherlands has won more meaningful games in bigger upsets - they've beaten England in the actual T20WC. Namibia is really a bit of a sham team aren't they? Frylinck was born in RSA, started his career with Boland and the Nth Cape in RSA and only qualified for Namibia through his Dad. Their VC, Wiese, who took the wickets, is a former South African rep who was also born in RSA and only qualified via decent. It's probably important to understand that Namibia continues to benefit from people who's parents lived in Namibia during the time RSA ruled there. They strike me as being reliant on the decent rules like the Netherlands and thus unlikely to ever really progress.
Rellum
Roar Guru
No plan for the greater good of the game will come about with the BCCI and to a lesser degree CA and the ECB running the sport. Self interest rules. If the ICC need to take control of the schedule and build a schedule from the ground up