ICC World T20 2021, SL vs NAM (Qualifier 4): Sri Lanka seals easy 7-wicket win over Namibia
Synopsis
On Monday, Sri Lanka registered a comfortable seven-wicket win over Namibia in Group A's Qualifier 4 of the 2021 ICC World T20 in Abu Dhabi. Lanka is one step closer to the Super 12s with this win.
It was a one-sided show from Sri Lanka, as it trumped Namibia by seven wickets in Group A's Qualifier 4 of the 2021 ICC World T20 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday. An all-round bowling effort, aided by some sensible batting, helped Lanka's cause.
Winning the toss, Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka opted to bowl, as Namibia was off to a jumpy start, losing Stephan Baard (7) and Zane Green (8) by the sixth over of the Powerplay, with 29 runs on the board. It was followed by a 39-run stand between Craig Williams (29) and skipper Gerhard Erasmus (20).
Lahiru Kumara dismissed Erasmus in the 13th, followed by Williams off Wanindu Hasaranga in the 14th, at 73. Three runs later, former South African David Wiese was trapped leg-before by Chamika Karunaratne in the 15th, while the incoming batters were all dismissed for single figures.
While JJ Smit (12*) stayed unbeaten, Nambia was shot out for 96 by the 20th over. Lanka put five bowlers into the attack, with pacer Maheesh Theekshana claiming three and pacer Lahiru Kumara niling it with his economy.
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In reply, Lanka was off to a shaky start as well, as it lost openers Pathum Nissanka (5) and Kusal Perera (11), along with Dinesh Chandimal (5) within the sixth over of the PP, with 26 runs on the board. However, Avishka Fernando (30*) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (42*) unbeaten stand of 74 runs was enough to see it through by the 14th over, as Lanka won by seven wickets.
For Namibia, eight bowlers were utilised. While Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtzand Smit claimed a wicket each, spinner Erasmus was the most economical of all.
Brief scores: Namibia 96 in 19.3 overs (Williams- 29; Theekshana- 3/25) lost to Sri Lanka 100/3 in 13.3 overs (Fernando- 30*, Rajapaksa- 42*; Smit- 1/7) by seven wickets.
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