Rex Clementine
in Geelong
We have just finished two days of the T-20 World Cup and have already seen two huge upsets. After three-time finalists Sri Lanka were humbled by Namibia, who won by 55 runs, in a Group ‘A’ game in Geelong, Scotland stunned two times champions West Indies with a 42-run win, in a Group ‘B’ fixture in Hobart.
Today Sri Lanka will take on UAE in Geelong under lights and prior to that Namibia and Netherlands will play at the same venue.
Sri Lanka’s Net Run Rate is -2.75 and not only do they need to win today but win big as well. A second win against the Netherlands on Thursday is good enough for Dasun Shanaka’s side to qualify without worrying about Net Run Rate, but rain is predicted for later this week and if the last game is a washout, teams can be tied on points and then it will come to the Net Run Rate in deciding which team will go through. That’s why Sri Lanka need to keep an eye on Net Run Rate.
Geelong has drop-in pitches and the one on which the curtain raiser of the competition was played proved to be two-paced. Sri Lanka’s batters tried some big shots but shot-making wasn’t easy on a wicket where the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat and their efforts turned out to be top edges.
Sri Lanka’s spinners fared better than the quicks as the eight overs of Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga went for only 50 runs while the 12 overs of pace went for 112 runs. While spin cost 6.25 runs an over, pace went for more than 9.3 runs.
Pace had been Sri Lanka’s weapon against associates during the first round in the last World Cup and Shanaka backed them in this edition as well. But that backfired and the captain didn’t have much of time to reassess and fall back to his part-time spinners. It didn’t help that Dushmantha Chameera returning to the side after injury bowled a poor second spell.
Lahiru Kumara comes into the equation for today’s game and it remains to be seen whom he will replace. If the extra pace is what Sri Lanka are looking for, it’s not a bad idea to bring him in for Chamika Karunaratne, but they are unlikely to go that path as they need Chamika’s batting at number eight. But if your top seven aren’t going to get you the runs, it doesn’t make any sense to expect number eight to bail you out.
There have been various readings about Sri Lanka’s predicament. While some have been quick to point out that the team had a similar campaign in the Asia Cup where they were humbled by Afghanistan before going on to win five straight games. Put under pressure, Sri Lanka brought their best out in UAE and they are having their back to the walls again here in Geelong after a pathetic display in front of 17,000 adoring fans who had driven down from Melbourne, Victoria’s main city which is one hour from the outskirt.
Some have argued that how Sri Lanka are better off in Group Two of the Super 12 stage which looks like an extended version of the Asia Cup with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh pooled alongside one of the qualifiers. Defending Champions Australia, last year’s losing finalists New Zealand and losing semi-finalists England are in Group One along with Afghanistan and possibly West Indies now. But that will be the last thing on Sri Lanka’s mind right now. They would just want to get two wins under their belts and go through.
Sunday’s defeat was Sri Lanka’s first loss to Namibia in any form of cricket. The moment they dismissed David Wiese, Namibia slipped to 93 for six in the 15th over and then they took the foot off the gas and then a 69-run stand followed for the seventh wicket between J.J. Smit and Jan Frylinck, who took the game away from Sri Lanka. It was Namibia’s first win against a team ranked among the top ten.
Sri Lanka’s total of 108 all out is their lowest against an Associate nation.