GEELONG: Karthik Meiyappan lit up the Twenty20 Global Cup with a hat-trick Tuesday nevertheless it was once in useless as Sri Lanka overwhelmed the United Arab Emirates to get their marketing campaign again heading in the right direction, whilst the Netherlands toppled Namibia. The Asian champions have been surprised by way of Namibia within the match’s opening sport on Sunday, a crushing 55-run defeat that left no room for error in opposition to the UAE.
They spoke back by way of bowling out the UAE for 73 for a powerful 79-run victory, however no longer prior to some drama. Sri Lanka have been cruising at 117-2 in Geelong when spin bowler Meiyappan derailed their plans within the fifteenth over, doing away with Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka in successive balls. It was once simplest the 5th hat-trick at a T20 Global Cup, and the first-ever for the UAE in any T20 world.
Shanaka’s crew recovered to put up 152-8 with Pathum Nissanka creating a gritty 74 and Meiyappan finishing with 3-19. “In reality disenchanted with the best way we ended the innings (with the bat). We can have scored 180-190,” mentioned Shanaka. “But it surely was once essential to get a win, we fascinated by a win simplest. He (Nissanka) was once remarkable.”
Previous, Bas de Leede took two wickets and made an unbeaten 30 because the Netherlands took an enormous step in opposition to the Tremendous 12 level with a traumatic five-wicket victory over giant-killing Namibia.
It left Crew A finely poised heading into the 3rd and ultimate suits on Thursday, the place internet run charge may just end up decisive. Sri Lanka, the 2014 champions, face the unbeaten Netherlands subsequent, wanting every other win, whilst Namibia take at the winless UAE. After being put into bat, Sri Lanka made a powerful get started, attaining 42 prior to Kusal Mendis (18) was once trapped lbw by way of Aryan Lakra. Nissanka was once joined by way of Dhananjaya de Silva and with the trumpets blowing from the Sri Lankan fanatics, they each crunched large sixes.
However their 50-run partnership got here to an finish with an amateurish runout. Nissanka drove the ball and De Silva spark off, however his spouse didn’t reply, leaving him stranded. Nissanka introduced up his 8th T20 half-century with a canopy shot however then watched as Rajapaksa, Asalanka and Shanaka all fell to Meiyappan. Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva was once snared by way of Aayan Afzal Khan 4 balls later as they misplaced 4 wickets for 3 runs. Nissanka saved calm on the different finish and started swinging his bat, prior to being pushed aside within the ultimate over.
Self-belief
Dushmantha Chameera briefly rattled the UAE of their answer, blank bowling Muhammad Waseem and Aryan Lakra within the area of 5 balls. The UAE had no solution to the tempo assault, slumping to 21-4 within the 6th over and so they by no means recovered as Sri Lanka ran rebel. Chameera ended with 3-15 however hobbled off overdue within the sport. Within the previous fit in Geelong, Namibia have been limited to 121-6, with the Dutch the usage of seven other bowlers to place the clamps on.
The Europeans, boosted by way of former South Africa and India trainer Gary Kirsten on their workforce, have been cruising at 91-1 within the 14th over in answer prior to Namibia took 4 overdue wickets to arrange a frightened finale. The Netherlands wanted six runs off the final over, with De Leede the hero, hitting a boundary after which scoring two to protected the win with 3 balls left. “We misplaced wickets at dangerous occasions, we will be able to’t manage to pay for to try this and we will be able to be informed from that as a crew,” mentioned De Leede. “However the self-belief has at all times been there and it’s great to win two tight video games. Possibly it opens up slightly extra freedom for the men.” – AFP