Sri Lanka, Netherlands enter Super 12

Opener Kusal Mendis slammed a 44-ball 79 as Asian champions Sri Lanka beat the Netherlands by 16 runs to sweep into the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup yesterday, where they were joined by the Dutch despite their defeat.

Sri Lanka plundered 162-6 in Geelong, blasting 102 of them off the final 10 overs, to set a big target which the Netherlands were unable to reach, finishing on 146-9.

But the men in orange still went through after United Arab Emirates won their first-ever game at a T20 World Cup to upset Namibia by seven runs. The two outcomes means that Bangladesh are not set to face the Netherlands in their tournament opener in Hobart on October 24. 

The Africans would have joined Sri Lanka in the next round rather than the Dutch had they won, but against the odds, the UAE restricted them to 141-8 as they chased 149 for victory.

While a crushing disappointment for Namibia, getting a first-ever win was a huge confidence booster for UAE.

Zahoor Khan and Basil Hameed grabbed two wickets each as the UAE reduced Namibia to 69-7 in the 13th over before late fireworks from David Weise (55 off 36 balls) set up a tense last-over finale.

"A great moment for UAE cricket. We had been doing well in patches, but today everything clicked together," said skipper Chundangapoyil Rizwan.

For Sri Lanka, the reigning Asian champions, it was a rocky road to enter the Super 12s, stunned by Namibia in the tournament's opening game before crushing UAE and the Dutch.

"We knew that we could be the number one in this group, but we missed out in the first match," said Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka.

"The boys have done well though, especially the bowling group. I knew the wicket was two-paced, so we wanted to bowl well in the first 10 overs and then control the game."

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Sri Lanka started slowly but Charith Asalanka and Mendis knuckled down in a 60-run third-wicket stand to step up the run rate before Asalanka was caught behind off all-rounder Bas de Leede for 31.

Mendis brought up his ninth T20 half-century with a six, then smacked successive sixes in the penultimate over, before he was out going for another boundary, almost carrying his bat.

In reply, Netherlands opener Vikramjit Singh was out for seven off Maheesh Theekshana, then Lahiru Kumara got the big wicket of rising star de Leede for 14.

Opener Max O'Dowd held the Dutch innings together with a superb 53-ball 71, laced with six fours and three maximums, hung on but when captain Scott Edwards was bowled by Binura Fernando after a quick-fire 21, Netherlands slumped from 100-4 to 109-8 and the game was all but over.

The final two places in the Super 12 will be decided after the two matches today as all four Group B teams – with Scotland and West Indies facing Zimbabwe and Ireland, respectively -- are still in contention.