Sri Lanka was stunned by Namibia by 55 runs in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The hosts scored 163/7 in their first innings and were bowled out for 108 in their reply. The first innings saw Jan Frylinck score 44 runs and JJ Smit score 31 runs. Bowlers David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, and Ben Shikongo took two wickets each during the bungled reply.
Sri Lanka bowled out for 108 runs while chasing 164 runs.
Sri Lanka was bowled out for 108 runs while trying to chase 164 runs in their T20 World Cup opener. In the Powerplay, Sri Lanka lost three wickets quickly. Ben Shikongo produced a double-wicket maiden in the fourth over and took the wickets of Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka off successive deliveries. As a result, the hosts lost their chase with 6 balls to spare.
In the chase, Sri Lanka’s top order struggled to progress, as only three batters scored double figures. In the first powerplay, David Wiese claimed the wicket of Kusal Mendis, while Ben Shikongo dismissed Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka. Ben Shikongo has taken two wickets in as many balls and is on a hat-trick. In the innings, Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Chaminda Sangakkara scored 31 and 20, respectively.
The loss was a blow for Sri Lanka, who were favorites for the T20 World Cup after beating Pakistan and India last month. But Namibia’s performance against Sri Lanka has been a good start to the T20 World Cup. The win puts Namibia atop the group A points table. Their opening stand of 70 runs between Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit helped them post a challenging target of 164 runs.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 12 stage. As a result, Sri Lanka’s defeat on Sunday seriously doubts their chances of winning the Group A table. Should they finish second in the group, they will join eight other teams already qualified for the next tournament stage.
Virat Kohli produced one of the greatest innings of an Indian batsman
Virat Kohli produced one of the greatest half-centuries in T20 World Cup history, scoring an explosive half-century against Pakistan. He is the former captain of the Indian national team and is currently playing for Delhi in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. He is a right-handed batsman.
Kohli’s match-winning knock against Pakistan on Friday ranked him as the best Indian batsman in the shortest format. His 82-ball half-century, along with a century stand with Hardik Pandya, helped India to a four-wicket victory over Pakistan. It is Kohli’s best ODI innings since his legendary knock against Australia at the T20 World Cup in Mohali in 2016.
In the middle of his innings, Kohli showed a destructive side, often lacking in T20 tournaments. He hit a six off the fifth ball from Hayden Walsh and then clobbered Jason Holder for two fours and a six off the next over. In the end, he and his teammates were able to get to the semi-finals.
Kohli’s 82-ball knock against Pakistan was the highest T20 innings by an Indian batsman. The innings were a perfect example of Kohli’s brilliance. He built India’s innings around Hardik Pandya, who played a vital knock of 40 off 37 deliveries. The pair needed 48 runs to win the match, and Kohli’s 82-ball knock meant that he was unbeaten until the final ball of his innings was hit over the deep mid-wicket head.
The second Test against South Africa was Kohli’s first Test since his debut series against England in January 2015. His two-century innings in the Test match in Antigua was the biggest win by an Indian captain outside of Asia. In the third Test against New Zealand, Kohli remained unbeaten, scoring 211 in the third innings and helping India win the series 3-0.
Kohli was well supported by Hardik Pandya, who added over 100 runs with Kohli. India lost four quick wickets at the top, but Kohli and Pandya put on a 50-run stand. The pair lost only four wickets, and India finished on 163/5.
Test-playing nations have the most twos.
Test-playing nations have made the most twos in the opening game of the T20 World Cup. In the March 2019 match between Papua New Guinea and the Philippines in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea managed 216 for 4 with 26 twos. In the January 2017 game between Scotland and Hong Kong, Scotland hit 24 twos in their innings. In the 2017 match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Johannesburg, Pakistan scored 189 runs with 24 twos.
The West Indies can win their second T20 World Cup in many years. In the last one, their title defense was marred by Carlos Brathwaite’s freak four-wicket explosion that sent Ben Stokes crashing into the stands. The West Indies can pull off some crazy stunts when they need to. Their batters include Kieran Powell and Andre Russell, who contribute with the ball, while Nicholas Pooran is known for his elegant rapier.
Test-playing nations have the most two-wickets. However, a side can only bowl eight overs in their T20 World Cup opener if they have a high average of two. This is because of the slow pitch and lack of bounce. The slow wickets allow smaller sides to hold onto hope.
Namibia has the best record in T20 World Cup history. They beat Sri Lanka by 55 runs in their 39th official T20I. Their previous two-wicket win came against non-Test sides. They beat Ireland in the last T20 World Cup in Sharjah and stunned Zimbabwe in a series in Bulawayo in 2013. Moreover, their men have played 29 ODIs. But they have won none against Test-playing nations.
In the inaugural tournament, the West Indies were stunned by Mohammad Ashraful’s flurry of fifty runs in 20 balls, the fastest ever in a Twenty20 International. While the West Indies are known for their cockiness and sloppy approach, they aren’t quite as gung-ho as their opponents. Despite the low score, the visitors won the match with six wickets and two overs to spare.
During Sri Lanka’s bungled reply, Namibia bowlers David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, and Jan Frylinck picked up two wickets.
In the first T20 World Cup match in Australia, Namibia defeated Sri Lanka by 55 runs on Sunday. The victory gave Namibia a first-ever victory in this tournament and lifted Namibia to the top of the group A points table. The visitors lost three wickets during the Powerplay but rallied to reach 164/7 at the end of their innings. The middle order, led by star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, fought hard to set a challenging target.
In the second T20 match, Scotland takes on the West Indies, and Ireland takes on Zimbabwe. Namibia has a good record against full-member sides. Last year, they also beat Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and Ireland at the T20 World Cup.
Namibia is on course to reach the Super 12 for the second time in a row after their successful T20 World Cup debut in the UAE. However, they lost their openers in the first three overs and are now on the back foot as they bid to qualify for the next round of the tournament. The top two teams will join England in the next stage.
In the first T20 World Cup match, Namibia beat Sri Lanka by 55 runs in their World Cup opener. Their bowling kept Sri Lanka’s top order in check. They bowled fuller-length balls and kept their opposition guessing. They were able to restrict Sri Lanka to 108 in 19.6 overs, and in the end, Namibia beat Sri Lanka by 55 runs.
Namibia bowlers David Wiese, Bernard Schmaltz, and Ben Shikongo all picked up two wickets in the Sri Lankan innings.
UAE bowlers were out for just 111/8 in their opening World Cup match and were dismissed for only one run on the last ball of the game. In their batting collapse, UAE batters were unable to adapt to the tough conditions at the Geelong Cricket Club.