Namibia have caused one of the biggest T20 World Cup upsets in recent memory, demolishing Sri Lanka by 55 runs in the tournament’s opening match in Geelong.
The African Fish scored their opponents a strong total of 7-163, thanks to five batsmen with totals of 20 runs or more, led by Jan Frylinck’s 44 off 28 balls.
But then it was his excellent fielding and bowling that caused the disconnect, with only one Sri Lankan batsman scoring more than 20 runs, struggling for 4-74 and then collapsing to be all out for 108.
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Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup barely a month ago and entered the tournament as the most likely team not yet to qualify for the Super 12 to win it, with betting odds of 20-1, better than Afghanistan or Bangladesh (who have already confirmed points in the next stage).
In comparison, Namibia were one of the biggest underdogs, at 1000-1 to win the tournament and ranked 14th in the world.
But now if they beat the Netherlands (ranked 18th) and the United Arab Emirates (ranked 13th) they will be guaranteed a place in the Super 12, and even if they beat just one of those nations, they have a great chance of progressing.
“What we just accomplished is beyond what we thought we could do,” Jan Frylinck said after the game.
Namibia beat the Netherlands in the group stage of the previous T20 World Cup, also defeating Ireland to make the Super 12, where they went 1-4 with victory over Scotland.
Sri Lanka will almost certainly need to beat the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates to have any chance of progressing.