David Bridges
An all-round performance from Jan Frylinck helped Namibia to register a stunning 55-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening game of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Geelong on Sunday.
After being put to bat first, Namibia were in deep trouble, losing their six wickets for 93 in 14.2 overs. However, the experienced pair of Frylinck and JJ Smit bailed Namibia out and helped their team put up a competitive total.
The duo of Frylinck and Smit formed a game-changing partnership of 70 runs for the seventh wicket to take Namibia to 163/7 in 20 overs. Frylinck was run out on the last ball, scoring a brilliant 44 from 28 deliveries. Smit, on the other hand, remained unbeaten at 31 off just 16 balls with the help of two fours and as many sixes.
In response, the Islanders just could not get going and were eventually packed for 108 in 19 overs, losing the game by 55 runs. Dasun Shanaka (29) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (20) did contribute, but it wasn’t enough to get Sri Lanka home.
Frylinck, who starred with the willow, chipped in with a notable performance with the ball as well. The star all-rounder picked up a couple of wickets for 26 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Apart from Frylinck, David Wiese (2/16), Bernard Scholtz (2/18), and Ben Shikongo (2/22) also bagged two scalps apiece.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
44 off 28 with the bat🏏
2/26 with the ball 🔥All-round brilliance from Jan Frylinck 💪#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/isRm72UiNg
— ICC (@ICC) October 16, 2022
Incredible start to the world cup . Has to be the most competitive T-20 WC . Big shout out to Namibia, a complete team effort #SLvNAM
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) October 16, 2022
What a win for Namibia 🇳🇦and what start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup!! #T20WorldCup #SLvNAM
— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) October 16, 2022
The unpredictability of Sri Lanka:
Beat Pakistan twice
Beat India
Win the Asia Cup
Lose to Namibia#T20WorldCup #AsiaCup2022— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) October 16, 2022
Namibia upset Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup.#SLvNAM Scorecard: https://t.co/ef3vLLIZxu#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/MRrHVD9rDh
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) October 16, 2022
Namibia now have more wins against full-member teams (IRE 2021 & SL 2022) than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in the men’s T20 World Cups and the same number of wins as Afghanistan and Ireland. #T20WorldCup #SLvNAM #Namibia
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) October 16, 2022
That is the 38th T20I win for a non-ICC Full Member v an ICC Full Member across 148 matches (25% wins) in 15 years. In ODIs there have been just 48 such wins across 393 matches (12% wins) in 47 years. T20 is the format of the underdog. #T20WorldCup
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) October 16, 2022
Not the result we wanted 💔, but we will look to bounce back in the matches ahead. #T20WorldCup #RoaringForGlory #SLvNAM pic.twitter.com/Ped5rilyDZ
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 16, 2022
Namibia has just registered their 27th T20I win in their 39th match!
Their top five victories against Test-playing nations are
1 vs Ireland in Oct 2021
3 vs Zimbabwe in May 2022
1 vs Sri Lanka in Oct 2022#T20WorldCup2022 #T20WC2022 #SLvNam #NamvSL— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 16, 2022
Biggest margin of win for an Associate team
against a Full member team in T20Is81 runs – Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Sharjah 2016
59 runs – Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Nagpur 2016
55 runs – Namibia vs Sri Lanka, Geelong 2022#WorldT20 #Namibia pic.twitter.com/osrNNdwGKJ— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) October 16, 2022
Well that’s just outstanding by Namibia. Super in the field, disciplined bowling and tremendous late innings batting. Hard road for SL now, especially if rain is about. Looking forward to the expanded #t20worldcup in the future. #SLvNAM
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 16, 2022
Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus was emotional while speaking to the players after a terrific win against Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/1HpBBKfvUo
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 16, 2022
Sophie Langley
Cameron Steel
