Both Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have made it through to the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka won the meeting between the pair, signalling their recovery form their opening shock defeat at the hands of Namibia. The UAE then did the Dutch a big favour by beating Namibia had the African side won, they would have advanced courtesy of Net Run Rate.
Sri Lanka back from the brink
A Sri Lankan side, still buoyant from their win in the Asia Cup in September, had been brought back to earth with a violent bump after they were beaten by Namibia in their first group match, the first shock result of this year’s World Cup.
A convincing win over the UAE helped get their campaigns back on track, and they completed their redemption and qualified for the Super 12 stage of the competition, by beating the previous unbeaten Dutch side.
It was Sri Lanka who won the toss in Geelong and decided to bat first, and they owed a debt of thanks to opener – and subsequent Player of the Match, Kusal Mendis – who anchored the innings by making 79 off 44 balls, including five sixes and five fours.
Partners came and went, although he did share a stand of 60 for the third wicket with Charith Asalanka, who made 31. Mendis departed in the final over, but his efforts had helped his team post 162/6 from their 20 overs.
The Sri Lankan bowling attack was deprived of the services of fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, who has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with the calf injury he sustained in the victory over the UAE.
Fortunately for them they still leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, and he was once again prominent for them, taking 3 of the Dutch wickets to fall.
Opener Max O’Dowd was the batting hero for the Netherlands, and he carried his bat for the team, making an unbeaten 71 off 53 balls, including 3 sixes, and 6 fours.
He lacked, though, anybody who could give him sustained support, and, and his side lost touch with the required run rate. In the end, they could only manage 146/9 from their 20 overs, losing by 16 runs.
The result means that Sri Lanka definitely qualified for the Super 12 stage of the competition, but the Dutch were left sweating on the outcome of the other match between Namibia and the UAE.
A Namibian victory would end their hopes because of an inferior Net Run Rate.
UAE ruin the Namibian party
Unfortunately for the Africans, they met a UAE side determined to spoil their party, even though they knew they had already been knocked out of the tournament.
It was the Arabians who won the toss and chose to bat first, and they were given a good start when Mohammad Waseem and Vriitya Aravind put on 39 for the first wicket. Aravind was out for 21, but then Waseem combined with his skipper Chundangapoyli Rizwan, and the pair added 58 more.
When Waseem departed for exactly 50, Rizwan found support from Basil Hameed, who made 25 form 14 balls including 2 sixes, in a brief cameo.
Rizwan was undefeated on 43, as his side closed their innings on 148/3.
Namibia’s chances of progressing appeared as an end when they slumped to 69/7 in the 13th over.
However, David Wiese and Ruben Trumpelmann then joined in a partnership that looked like it might yet bring about a famous victory. They put on 70 off just 42 balls, with Wiese scoring 55 of them, including 3 sixes and 3 fours.
In the end, though, 10 still required to win off 3 balls, he went for one big shot too many and he was caught.
Trumpelmann was unbeaten at the end on 25, but his efforts were in vain.
The UAE had won by 7 runs to end Namibia’s World Cup dreams.
It was their first ever win at a World Cup.
What this means
The results mean that Sri Lanka have topped the group, and have now joined Afghanistan, Australia, England and New Zealand in Group 1 of the Super 12 competition. Their first match will be on Sunday, between whoever finishes runner-up in the other group.
The Netherlands, meanwhile now find themselves in Group 2, alongside India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa. Their first game will be against Bangladesh on Monday.
Namibia and the UAE will head for home, but with a win each under their belts, can depart with their heads held high.
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