Sharjah: Sri Lanka outplayed Netherlands in their final game in Group A in Sharjah on Friday sealing a 10 wicket victory over Netherlands to book place in the Super 12 of the ongoing ICC World T20.
The young Lankan spin. duo of Wanindu Hasaranga(3/9) and Maheesh Theekshana(2/3) ran havoc as the Netherlands batting line up were packed home for a mere 44 in 10 over, the second lowest score in their history. Apart from Ben Cooper(11), none of the Dutch batters were able to see double digits. Sri Lanka’s bowlers have been outstanding so far in this preliminary qualifiers and its no surprise why they have finished their group unbeaten at the top.
Chasing such a tiny target, Sri Lanka(44/2 in 7.1 overs) lost a couple of wickets with opener Pathum Nissanka going home for a duck in the second over. However, the experienced Kusal Perera hammered an unbeaten 24 ball 33 to ensure his side’s place in the next round.
Earlier, at the same venue, Namibia created history as qualified for the first time in the actual tournament of ICC World T20 registering a dominant 8 wicket victory over Ireland in Group A.
Namibia scored 126/2 in 18.3 overs after their bowlers bowled well to restrict Ireland to 125/8 in 20 overs.
The Irish line-up collapsed horribly as apart from their top three – Paul Sterling(28), the top scorer, Kevin O’Brien(25) an skipper Andrew Balbernie(21), none got to double digits.
Jan Frylinck(3/21), the young left arm seamer topped the bowling charts for the African side alongside veteran David Wiese(2/22) who later played his role with bat as well.
Chasing 126, Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus(53*) starred for his side with an unbeaten match winning knock alongside useful contributions from Wiese(28*) and Zane Green(29) after they lost opener Criag Williams inside the powerplay overs.
Irish bowlers lead by Curtis Campher(2/14) did mange to drag the game towards the death overs with spinner Simi Singh and seamer Joshua Little bowling tight spells. However, the game changed when Wiese hammered a couple of sixes in the 15th overs taking 18 runs off that which ignited the the belief within the Namibian camp and towards the end, it was the skipper who guided them to the finish line.
