Wanindu Hasaranga’s 71 off 47 balls was well complemented by a clinical bowling display as Sri Lanka sealed their place in the Super 12s with a massive 70-run win over Ireland in a group A first round match of the ICC T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.
Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka recovered from 8 for 3 to make 171/7 in 20 overs and then returned to dismiss Ireland for 101 in 18.3 overs to grab the top position in Group A with four points from two matches.
Ireland, on the other hand, will now have to beat Namibia in their final group match to make it to the next stage.
Earlier, David Wiese scored a sensational 66 off 40 balls to fashion Namibia’s six-wicket win over the Netherlands.
Wiese’s maiden international half-century changed the pace of the game in a matter of minutes as runs flew thick and fast after he took charge at the crease, and in the process added 93 with skipper Gerhard Erasmus (32) for the fourth wicket.
Chasing 165 to stay alive in the competition, debutants Namibia were stuttering at 52/3 after nine overs but Wiese single-handedly sank the Dutch side. His onslaught on the spinners, especially the monstrous straight sixes, was a treat to watch. He raised his fifty in just 29 balls, with a six off rival skipper Pietar Seelaar. His 40-ball unbeaten knock was adorned with five sixes and four shots to the fence.
Erasmus too timed the ball beautifully and got boundaries with ease in his 22-ball knock that had four fours and a six.
Brief scores
- Netherlands 164/4 (Max O’Dowd 70, Colin Ackermann 35). Namibia 166/4 (David Wiese 66 not out, G. Erasmus 32). Namibia won by 6 wickets.
- Sri Lanka 171/7 (P. Nissanka 61, Wanindu Hasaranga 71). Ireland 101 (M. Theekshana 3/17). Lanka won by 70 runs.
