Joy for Lanka or heartbreak for the Dutch?

A revitalised Sri Lanka's quest to the Super 12 hangs in the balance as they take on group-topper Netherlands at the GMHBA Stadium in Geelong, while Namibia face a feeble UAE in the final match of Group A in the T20 World Cup today.

The Netherlands sit top with four points, while the other two realistic contenders for qualification -- Namibia and Sri Lanka -- are second and third respectively with two points each.

Net run-rate is expected to play a major role in who goes through. The Dutch might not make it to the main stage if they lose to Sri Lanka and at the same time if Namibia win against UAE.

Netherlands have the lowest net run-rate amongst the three expected to fight for qualification, while Namibia have the highest. So, in order to cement qualification, the Dutch find themselves in a must-win situation or else they will have to pray that Namibia lose to the UAE in the latter match.

On the other hand, former champions Sri Lanka, who are playing in the group-stage for the first time, find themselves in a sudden-death situation quite early on in the tournament, surely an unfamiliar territory for the current Asia Cup champions.

The Lankans, who have had a serious buff to their net run-rate following their 79-run win over UAE, have made a turnaround and a win against the Dutch would surely take them through to the Super 12.

Sri Lanka and Netherlands have faced each other on two occasions previously, both times it was in a T20 World Cup. Despite the two wins in their record book, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka pointed out the unfamiliarity and unpredictability of facing an associate nation in a sudden-death situation

"Rather than playing well-known countries, it is somewhat different playing against these nations. We don't know what exactly comes at us," Shanaka said on Wednesday. "Normally, when you play against the Test-playing nations, we know the bowlers and combinations they play. There are advantages and disadvantages both when we play this kind of rounds."

For Namibia, it has been an up-and-down start. They toppled Sri Lanka in their opening fixture but were edged by Netherlands in the second match.

The African nation also are in a must-win situation if they are to qualify and UAE seem to offer the perfect opportunity for them to not only win but better their net run-rate in the process, leaving no question for qualification.