Asian Champions Sri Lanka to take on Namibia in T20 World Cup Opener

So the big day has finally arrived with Sri Lanka taking on Namibia in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia to kick start their campaign!

Sri Lanka would be confident and raring to go but face a Namibian side that will be looking to impress once again after a stellar showing in the last edition.

They squared off in the qualifier stage in the T20 World Cup last year and Lankan Lions trumped Namibia easily.

Theekshana and Hasaranga proved too much for them as they folded for 96 batting first and Sri Lanka then chased down the total with ease.

The spin twins will once again hold the key for Sri Lanka especially as news is coming out that the impressive left arm pace bowler Madhushanka suffered an injury scare in their last practice session.  That could mean a coming together of last year's combo of fast bowlers for Sri Lanka - Dushmantha Chameera & Lahiru Kumara.

The batting is fairly settled with Asalanka making way for the multi faceted Dhananjaya De Silva at least to begin with. Kusal Mendis and Rajapakse will be the driving force for them as far as the strike rates are concerned.

Namibia will rely on their skipper Gerhard Erasmus along with all rounders Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit & the ever present David Wiese. Trumplemann, the left arm pacer, who impressed last year will be looking to put on another good showing.

Geelong is a very funnily shaped ground with some sides as small as 51 m. Bowlers will have to keep their line and restrict the batsmen to one side of the ground.

Top Fantasy Picks from Sri Lanka v Namibia

Sri Lanka

Mendis, Nissanka, Theekshana, Hasaranga

Namibia

Erasmus, Smit, Frylinck, Wiese

Key Battle

Sri Lankan spinners v Namibian batsmen

How Namibian batsmen handle the Lankan spinners will be the most important battle in this match, one that will most likely decide the outcome of the match.

Sri Lanka v Namibia Probable XI

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dananjaya de Silva, Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapasksa, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara

Namibia: Stephan Baard, Lohandre Louwrens, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus, David Wiese, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo

The match will start at 9.30 AM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports)

How do you see the match panning out?