Jan Frylinck crushed 44 runs and took two wickets as Namibia defeated Asian Cup champions Sri Lanka by 55 runs to cause a major upset in Sunday’s Twenty20 World Cup opener. Left-handed Frylinck and JJ Smit, who made an unbeaten 31, took Namibia to 163-7 with their 69-run seventh wicket score, after being invited to hit first in Geelong. Sri Lanka was then knocked out for 108 in 19 overs, with David Wiese, Frylinck, Bernard Scholtz and Ben Shikongo each taking two wickets in the first of three matches in the opening round.
The African minnows are on course for a second consecutive Super 12 place after achieving the feat during their T20 World Cup debut in the United Arab Emirates last year.
Namibia lost their openers within three overs with returning fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera getting a wicket third ball when Michael van Lingen was caught at deep third man.
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton fell after a brilliant dive from wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis after a 12-ball 20.
Stephan Baard and skipper Gerhard Erasmus tried to rebuild with a score of 41, but the Sri Lankan bowlers were stuck with wickets.
Namibia dropped to 93-6 when spinner Maheesh Theekshana left big-hitter David Wiese for nothing, but Frylinck, who hit four fours in his 28-ball innings, and Smit had other ideas.
The pair took the charge to the opposition with five fours and two sixes in the last five overs.
Sri Lanka, which won the Asian Cup last month, lost to Kusal Mendis by six when his top edge flew off Wiese and landed in Zane Green’s gloves.
Ben Shikongo silenced the Sri Lankan fans when he sent Pathum Nissanka for nine and Danushka Gunathilaka for nothing on consecutive balls.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa played the hat trick ball and survived a big lbw scream.
Frylinck, a seam to the left arm, then got Dhananjaya de Silva as Sri Lanka slipped back to 40-4.
Left-handed Rajapaksa and skipper Dasun Shanaka, who made 29, tried to get the chase back on track with a company of 34, but Bernard Scholtz broke the lead with his left arm spin.
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Scholtz got Rajapaksa out for 20 when he skied a shot and soon sent Wanindu Hasaranga back.
Frylinck put an end to Captain Shanka’s resistance and the lower order soon followed to unleash joyful celebrations as Wiese claimed the last wicket.
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