After the wrap-up of the warm-up matches for Round 1, it’s time for the official start of the big tournament with Sri Lanka facing Namibia in the very first match.
SL vs NAM Team Preview:
Sri Lanka
In the recently concluded Asia Cup, Sri Lanka emerged as the winner defeating Pakistan in the finals (once in Super 4 too) and also tournament favourites India in the same round. Despite the toss win match win trend in UAE, they won the finals batting first too. Ex-champions (2014) would aim to start their world cup campaign against Namibia with a win.
Namibia
Namibia upsetting Ireland and qualifying for the main round was a big highlight of the last edition of this mega event (ICC T20 WC 2021) and would aim to repeat this performance. But having not played a T20I for the last 4.5 months, it would not be easy for Namibia to face the in-form Sri Lankans in the inaugural match of Round 1.
Broadcasting and Pitch Details
As most of our audience is from India, we would share details accordingly.
Date and Time:- 16 October, Sunday, 9:30 AM IST/4:00 AM GMT/3:00 PM Local
Streaming Platforms:- Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar app and website.
The match would be played in Simonds Stadium, South Geelong, Victoria.
As there is only one T20I played on this ground, there is not much to share about this. Sri Lanka defeated Australia in the only match batting second. Australia Scored 173, and Sri Lanka chased it on the very last ball.
SL vs Nam Probable Playing 11
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis(WK), Pathum Nissanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madhushan
Namibia: Stephan Baard, Michael van Lingen, Gerhard Erasmus(C), Divan la Cook, Jan Frylinck, David Wiese, JJ Smit, Zane Green(WK), Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo
H2H and Recent Matches
Sri Lanka and Namibia faced each other in just one match (2021 T20WC Round 1), and Sri Lanka easily defeated Namibia there.
Latest 5 match record for both teams-
Sri Lanka-W W W W W(5/0)
Namibia- W W L W L(3/2)
SL vs Nam: Key Players
Dasun Shanaka
Sri Lankan Captain is one of the most prominent reasons for the rise of their cricket again. He can add quick runs at the end, can finish the match and can also bowl some overs of medium pace. After the last T20WC, Shanaka is second highest run scorer for Lanka with a strike rate of 143+.
Wanindu Hasaranga
The spin master, a good fielder and a handy batsman lower down the order. Hasaranga is a complete package on the field and Lanka’s outcome in this WC would be mostly based on his performance. He has the most wickets for Sri Lanka after the last WC edition and was also their top wicket-taker in the same tournament.
He bagged a deal of total 10.75CR with RCB earlier in this year’s IPL and performed accordingly as he was the second highest wicket-taker (26 wickets) in IPL and had the best average (16.75) for bowlers with 20+ wickets in the tournament. Let’s hope he performs well and turn fortunes for the ex-champions.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa
A hard-hitting WK batsman who came into the limelight after a quickfire 43(22) for PBKS in their inaugural match of the 2022 IPL season against RCB and also scored 31(9) in the second match against KKR. His batting abilities are not only limited to IPL as he is the highest run scorer for Sri Lanka(195 runs) in the previous three months(since 1 July) with a whooping Strike Rate of 150.
David Wiese
He was Namibia’s highest run scorer in the previous edition of the World Cup and also the third-highest wicket-taker. This South African-born would have to repeat his performance if Namibia wants to qualify again for the main round.
Gerhard Erasmus
Erasmus was the captain of the side in the previous edition and would lead them again going into the world cup. Erasmus Scored 254 runs with an average of 50+ in the 8 matches Namibia played after the last World Cup.
Top Performers For Each Team
Sri Lanka
Highest run scorers since July 1-
- Bhanuka Rajapaksa- 191 runs, 47.75 ave, 149.21 SR
- Pathum Nissanka- 173 runs, 34.60 ave, 115.33 SR
Highest wicket-takers since July 1
- Wanindu Hasaranga- 9 wickets, 18.88 ave, 7.39 eco
- Chamika Karunaratne- 7 wickets, 20.71 ave, 9.06 eco
Namibia
Highest run scorers following T20 WC 2021
- Gerhard Erasmus- 254 runs, 50.80 ave, 133.68 SR
- Craig Williams- 178 runs, 29.66 ave, 98.88 SR
Highest wicket-takers following T20 WC 2021
- Bernard Scholtz- 8 wickets, 20.37 ave, 5.82 eco
- JJ Smit- 8 wickets, 8.50 ave, 5.74 eco
Fantasy/Dream11 Team for Nam vs SL
Match Prediction:
We predict Sri Lanka to win this match. Wanindu Hasaranga might be their best performer.
