SL VS NAM - 1st Match, Group A, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022

Wow! What a start we had to this T20 World Cup. In the innings break Frylinck said his side was confident of defending this total and they have vindicated that statement. Namibia showed great batting and bowling depth in that XI they fielded. If they can get the top-order firing, this could be serious business for even top teams. All is not lost yet for Sri Lanka, but they do need to pick up at least one big win to repair that huge dent on NRR. If UAE and Netherlands saw Namibia bowl, they would have understood that keeping it on a length or fuller is better on this pitch. Hop tabs and join us for today's second game very quickly. See you there!

Gerhard Erasmus: Incredible journey, last year was a special experience for us. We've started a great win, but lot of work to do throughout this tournament still. It's been a historic day for us. The opening day has been quite special but we want to kick on from here and qualify for the Super 12 stage. We understand the bigger picture as well. Credit goes to Pierre (de Bruyn) the way he has installed coaching to this team, one that's a winning culture and one that sticks together. With the limited resources, I don't think there's anyone else that could run such a tight ship.

Dasun Shanaka: The surface played really well, but we didn't execute well with the ball. Didn't bowl in the right areas and that's a concern. Once we lose three wickets in the powerplay, we are usually out of the game. The plans should be simple, we need not do anything special. We got a good team, it's about the process. When we are chasing 160, we need need some partnerships. Need the openers to come good and the No. 3 to click.

Jan Frylinck | Player of the Match: I'm a little bit speechless at the moment. What we just achieved is above what we thought we could do. I am just very excited at this point of time. JJ just came in and took a little bit of pressure off me with a lot of boundaries. Myself and JJ got us to a competitive total and the bowlers were just unbelievable. (Surface) It was a little bit two-paced, the good lengths were hard to get away. Other than that, it played rather true and you could just hit on the up. We just stuck to our plans (with the ball), tried to hit good lengths and let them make the mistakes.

It's a big, long team huddle now for Namibia. There's a long, calm talk because they know they don't want to get carried away with this early win in the comp. Everyone's focused and it looks quite a mature unit. They totally caught Sri Lanka unawares. Namibia were actually struggling in the middle overs losing quick wickets, but Frylinck and Smit got together to stun the Asian champions with 68 runs off the last 5 overs. Sri Lanka do bat pretty long, but batters threw it away and Ben Shikongo sent serious shivers when he almost picked a hat-trick in what was a double-wicket maiden over. Frylinck and Wiese showed how good their variations were. Special mention to Bernard Scholtz for four disciplined and wicket-taking overs.

Biggest wins by runs for an Associate team vs a Full member team in T20Is
81 runs Afg vs Zim Sharjah 2016
59 runs Afg vs Zim Nagpur 2016
55 runs Nam vs SL Geelong 2022 *
54 runs UAE vs Ire Dubai 2021

18:22 Local Time, 07:22 GMT, 12:52 IST: They came, they handled pressure, they finished strongly with the bat, bowled brilliantly and made a statement. Namibia showed promise last year in the UAE, now they begin with a bang, beating a Test playing nation. This is what we are all here for in ICC tournaments. The stories of the underdogs pushing the regulars to the limit and even crossing the line. One thing is for sure today. Namibia showed Sri Lanka how to bowl on this pitch. When Sri Lanka got excited with the terms "Australia," "bounce," and bowled way too short than the pitch demanded, Namibia bowled a lot fuller and let the ball do its bit. The Sri Lankan batters had no answers.

Wiese to Chameera, out Caught by Erasmus!! In the airrr, taken at deep mid-wicket and the Namibians are roaring. Slower delivery, Chameera slogs, toe-ends it high, taken in the deep. Chameera c Erasmus b Wiese 8(15)

Wiese to Chameera, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Wiese to Chameera, no run, now the short slower delivery, beaten

Wiese to Chameera, no run, oh fires the yorker in and gets it to sneak between the legs, just misses leg stump

Wiese to Chameera, no run, oh that hardly rose after pitching. Slower delivery, Chameera totally beaten. Lucky for him that this wasn't on the stumps

Wiese to M Theekshana, 1 run, opens the face of the bat and manages to guide it to third man

Wiese to Chameera, 1 run, slower delivery, Chameera edges this to third man

Jan Frylinck to Chameera, 1 run, flicked uppishly to deep mid-wicket, fielder attacks for the catch but it drops short of him. End of a great game for Jan Frylinck 44(28) with the bat, 2/26 with the ball

Jan Frylinck to M Theekshana, 1 run, gently taps it to the left of the bowler for a run

Jan Frylinck to M Theekshana, SIX, oh he has hit that all the way. Full delivery, Theekshana moves across and slogs across the line, pretty well timed and he clears mid-wicket. 100 up for Sri Lanka

Jan Frylinck to M Theekshana, no run, short of length delivery on the stumps, Theekshana defends

Jan Frylinck to Chameera, 1 run, slower delivery, knocked behind square

Jan Frylinck to Chameera, no run, beaten! Fullish delivery angling across, Chameera looks to push at it and misses