Theekshan puts Sri Lanka one step closer to qualifying

by Champika Fernando in Abu Dhabi

A rejuvenated Sri Lanka made a perfect start to their T20 World Cup campaign, humbling minnows Namibia in their Group A opener at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi last night.  The win, a comprehensive one, despite an early wobble, will give a bag of confidence to the islanders who are eyeing one of the four available slot in the main draw of the tournament.

The victory was set up by the bowlers, led by mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who took advantage of a two-paced wicket to bowl out the opposition for a below-par 96 inside the 20 overs after Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka put them to bat first.

Namibia needed early wickets, the only way they could have put Sri Lanka under-pressure while chasing a small total. They did that effectively by removing openers, Kusal Janith Perera (11), Pathum Nissanka (5) and Dinesh Chandimal (5) early as Sri Lanka slumped to 26 for 3 in 5.1 overs but Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa made sure there were no further hiccups, sharing an unfinished 74-run partnership to sail over the target.

Fernando, who is enjoying a great run at No. 4, played sensibly in his 30 while Rajapaksa showed great aggression in his quick-fire knock of 44 as Sri Lanka reached the target in the 14th over of the match when, Rajapaksa flicked Jane Frylinck for a six over deep square-leg.

Earlier, 22-year-old spinner Theekshana took 3 for 25 and was well assisted by the rest of the bowling unit as Sri Lanka produced a fantastically disciplined performance with the ball and in the field, with Carig Williams’s 29 and Merwe Erasmus’s 20 being the only score of note for Namibia.

Theekshana who was rightly adjudged man-of-the-match had a memorable World Cup debut removing Stephan Baard with his first ball, then Zane Green in the second over to give Sri Lanka the early advantage. In his final over he bowled Jan Frylinck through the gate when he attempted to sweep, without making any connection with the ball.

Baard took a huge gamble when he decided to take Theekshana, the mystery spinner, as soon as he was introduced to the attack. He paid the price when an attempted big hit ended up in the safe-hands of Wanindu Hasaranga fielding at mid-off. Their partnership, the best in either inning, came off just 50 balls and had 4 sixes and four boundaries.

"I am really happy to represent the country," Theekshana said at the end of the match. "It's a huge moment for me as I am just 21. My stock ball is the offbreak. I would like to represent my country in more games but I plan game by game."

Theekshana was welcomed to the second over with a huge six over log-off by Craig Williams but the 21-year-old rookie had the last laugh when Green skied one to the mid-on to claim his second wicket.  Lahiru Kumara, who was drafted into the 15-man squad, continued to impress by bowling at tight lengths and varying his pace, leaving little room for the batters to free their arms. He finished with figures of 2 for 9. Wanindu Hasaranga who has been off-colour for a while, seemed to have found his rhythm and returned figures of 2 for 24. The bowlers were well backed by some solid performances in the field that gave a torrid time to the Namibian batters. Dushmantha Chameera, who has been Sri Lanka’s mainstay in the fast-bowling department, generated some serious pace during the match, almost touching the 150kmph mark, while Karunaratne also moved the ball at a good pace, threatening the batters.

Sri Lanka is up against Ireland on Wednesday, their toughest opponent, who comprehensively beat Netherlands in the afternoon match.

Namibia

Stephan Baard c Hasaranga b Theekshana 07

Zane Green c Shanaka b Theekshana  08

Chaig Williams  lbw Hasaranga 29

Gerhard Erasmus c Hasaranga b Kumara 20

David Wiese lbw Karunarathne 06

JJ Smit not out 12

Jan Frylinck b Theekshana 02

Jan Loftie-Eaton lbw Hasaranga 03

Ruben Trumpelmann C Shanaka b Chameera 01

Pikky Ya France b Kumara 01

Bernard Scholtz run out 00

Extras(lb2,nb1,w4) 09

Total (all out in 19.3 overs )96

Fall of Wicket : 1-10 (3.1, Baard), 2-29 (5.4, Green), 3-68 (12.2, Erasmus  ), 4-73(13.2, Williams), 5-79(14.3, Wiese), 6-84(15.4, Frylinck) ,7-90( 17.3 , Loftie-Eaton) , 8-93(18.3, Trumpelmann) ,9-96(19.1, France) ,10-96 (19.3, Scholtz)

Bowling: Chamika Karunarathne 4-0-17-1 ,Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-19-1 ,Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-25-3, Lahiru Kumara 3.3-0-9-2 ,Wanindu Hasaranga 4-0-24-2

Sri Lanka

 Pathum Nissanka lbw b Scholtz 05

Kusal Perera c Smit b Trumpelmann 11

Dinesh Chandimal c Green b Smit 05

Avishka Fernando not out 30

Bhanuka Rajapaksa 42

Extras (lb4, w3) 07

Total (for 3 wickets in 19.3 overs) 100

Fall of wickets: 1-14(1.5, Perera) , 2-18(2.6, Nissanka) ,3-26(5.1 , Chandimal)

Bowling: David Wiese 2-0-11-0,Ruben Trumpelmann 3-0-27-1 , Bernanrd Scholtz 3-0-16-1, JJ Smit 1-0-7-1, Pikky Ya France 1-0-6-0, Jan Loftie-Eaton 1-0-7-0, Jan Frylinck1.3-17-0,Gerhard Erasmus 1-0-5-0