Namibia stuns Asia cup champions Sri Lanka at T20WC opening day

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Sri Lankan Cricket Captain Dasun Shanaka said his team hopes to win next two games in the T20 world cup qualifying round, and put the country on a path towards victory. 

He made this statement speaking at the post match press conference today. 

Namibia pulled of an upset win, beating Sri Lanka by 55 runs in match number one of the T20 world cup today. 

The T20 world cup got underway today in Geelong Australia. 

The 1st match of the T20 world cup featured Asia Cup Champions Sri Lanka taking on Namibia. 

The match is a qualifier for the group stage. 

Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and invited Namibia to bat. 

Namibia lost their 1st 3 wickets for just 35 runs. However, a partnership between Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus and Stephan Baard put Namibia on top. The pair put on 41 runs together.

The Sri Lankan team broke through dismissing Erasmus for 20 runs followed by David Wiese without scoring in quick succession.

Jan Frylinck and JJ Smith put on an invaluable 69 runs for the 7th wicket, breathing life to the Namibian innings once again.

Frylinck scored 44 runs from 28 balls.

Namibia finished their 20 overs posting a challenging 163 runs for 7 wickets.

Pramod Madhushan took 2 wickets.

Chasing a target of 164 runs to win, the Sri Lankan's were made to work hard by the Namibian bowlers.

Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were dismissed for 6 and 9 runs respectively.

The Lankans lose their first 4 wickets for just 40 runs.

Dhanushka Gunathila was dismissed for a duck.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa built a 34-run partnership for the fifth wicket, giving some hope to Sri Lankan fans.

But with the fall of Rajapakse for 20 runs and Shanaka for 29 runs, the Sri Lankan team's hopes of victory soon disappeared.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for just 108 runs in 19 overs.

Namibia notched up the first win of the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands won the second match of the day.

In match 2 of the qualifying round the United Arab Emirates, who won the toss and batted first, posted a 118 for 8.

Opener Muhammad Wasim scored 41 runs.

Bas De Leed picked up 3 wickets.

The Netherlands reached their target with just one ball to spare; they lost 7 wickets in the process.

Max O'Dowd scored 23 runs.

Captain Scott Edwards scored an unbeaten 16 runs.