Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

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The wait is over. The highly anticipated 2022 T20 World Cup is upon us, with two promising teams set to kick off the tournament. Sri Lanka, fresh off a magnificent Asia Cup triumph, will be seeking not only qualification to the Super 12s, but making a mark in that stage. Namibia, who qualified for the Super 12s last year, have much of the core that performed so admirably in the UAE. So, both units have positives from recent months to build on.

While the Sri Lankans can have visions of challenging higher ranked sides, they must be wary of looking too far ahead too soon. Namibia enter this tournament as a well-balanced outfit, with a number of bowling options to turn to. Thus, a strong start for Sri Lanka – the kind that held them in good stead in the Asia Cup – will be key as they aim to set a platform for Dasun Shanaka and the dangerous Bhanuka Rajapaksa.

So, how Namibia handle Sri Lanka’s big hitters will be key, especially with small straight boundaries at Geelong. Also, how Namibia’s batting lineup copes with the Lions’ mix of strong pace and spin options will make for interesting viewing. If the Namibians can put on a solid show, it will hold them in good stead for the remainder of this all-important group stage.

SL vs NAM Possible Playing XI

Dushmantha Chameera should slot into the XI that won the Asia Cup Final against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka: 1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Kusal Mendis (wk), 3. Dhananjaya de Silva, 4. Danushka Gunathilaka, 5. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Chamika Karunaratne, 9. Maheesh Theekshana, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Dilshan Madushanka/Pramod Madushan Liyanagamage

Namibia have a number of seam-bowling options with David Wiese, Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit as the all-rounders. So, the Namibians could come in with two spin options at least.

Namibia: 1. Michael van Lingen, 2. Divan la Cock/Stephan Baard, 3. Gerhard Erasmus (c), 4. Jan Nicol Lofie-Eaton, 5. David Wiese, 6. Jan Frylinck, 7. JJ Smit, 8. Zane Green (wk), 9. Bernard Scholtz, 10. Ruben Trumpelmann, 11. Pikky Ya France

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Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

• Kusal Mendis when he opens in T20Is: 20 inns, 602 runs, avg. 31.68, SR 142.65. In all other positions, Mendis has scored 234 runs at an average of 11.14 and strike rate of 97.90.
• Pathum Nissanka is Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer in T20Is this year. The opener has struck 499 runs at an average of 31.18 and strike rate of 114.71, with four fifties.
• In T20Is in Australia, Nissanka has scored 184 runs in five matches at an average of 36.80 and strike rate of 115.72.
• Bhanuka Rajapaksa had a magnificent Asia Cup. He smashed 191 runs in six matches at an average of 47.75 and strike rate of 149.21. This includes a man of the match 71* off 45 balls in the Final.
• The excellent Wanindu Hasaranga continues to impress. In 11 T20Is this year, Hasaranga has taken 19 wickets at an average of 17.57 and strike rate of 12.9. Against Namibia last year, he took 2/29.
• Maheesh Theekshana was man of the match against Namibia last year, with 3/25. He dismissed Stephan Baard, Zane Green and Jan Frylinck.
• Watch out for the impressive Dilshan Madushanka. He took six wickets in the Asia Cup at an economy of 7.75. Four of these scalps came at the death, where he took a wicket every 7.5 deliveries.

Namibia:

• Gerard Erasmus is 73 away from 1,000 T20I runs. The skipper averages 34.33 and strikes at 131.48, and he will be vital in setting up a platform for the Namibians.
• This year, Erasmus has struck 254 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 50.80 and strike rate of 133.68. This includes one fifty and one hundred.
• All-rounders David Wiese, Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit will be crucial to Namibia’s hopes. Smit has taken eight wickets in just three T20Is this year, while Frylinck has taken seven in eight matches and Wiese has five in five.
• In 35 T20s this year, Wiese has smashed 492 runs at a strike rate of 161.31. He also has 33 wickets to his name at a respectable economy of 7.74.
• Bernard Scholtz is conceding just 5.82 runs per over in eight T20Is this year (eight wickets). He dismissed Pathum Nissanka LBW in last year’s T20 World Cup.

Other Stats and Facts

• Sri Lanka and Namibia have met once before in a T20I. It was at last year’s World Cup, where Sri Lanka bowled Namibia out for just 99. The Lions then chased the target with seven wickets and 39 balls to spare.
• In that game, Namibia reduced Sri Lanka to 26/3 after 5.1 overs.
• Dasun Shanaka in T20Is this year: 17 inns, 419 runs, avg. 34.91, SR 143.49.

Simonds Stadium Geelong Pitch Report and Weather

Geelong hosted three BBL games back in January 2022. The average first innings score was 158, but it must be taken into account that Brisbane Heat were severely affected by COVID-19 in their score of 128.

The straight boundaries are short, and one side of the ground is usually shorter too. So, the bowling side will be aiming to be as disciplined with their line and length as possible.

After torrential rainfall across Victoria in recent times, the weather conditions look much more promising. But, there is a chance of showers in the afternoon in Geelong.

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SL vs NAM Dream11 Prediction 16 October 2022

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

• Wicket-Keepers: Kusal Mendis
• Batsmen: Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Gerard Erasmus
• All-Rounders: David Wiese, Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowlers: Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana

T20 World Cup 2022 Match 1: SL vs NAM Match Prediction – Who will win?

Sri Lanka should have enough experience and quality to win this match.

Disclaimer: Links in this article are part of a sponsorship for the 2022 T20 World Cup where CricBlog has received a fee.