Former champions Sri Lanka have endured an early mini-collapse before cruising to a seven wicket win over Namibia in their opening Twenty20 World Cup clash at Abu Dhabi.
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After Namibia were bowled out for 96, Sri Lanka reached 3-100 in 13.3 overs in their Group A game but didn't have it all their own way.
Sri Lanka stumbled in their run chase, reduced to 3-26 in the sixth over after Namibia's JJ Smit (1-7), Bernard Scholtz (1-16) and Ruben Trumpelmann (1-27) struck.
However, Bhanuka Rajapaksa made Namibia pay for giving him a life on 18 when he was dropped at fine leg.
He thrashed four fours and two sixes to be 42 not out off 27 balls, combining with Avishka Fernando to steer the 2014 champs to a commanding win.
Fernando hit two sixes to be 30 not out, sharing an unbeaten 74-run fourth wicket stand.
Earlier, Namibia were cruising at 2-68 after Sri Lanka won the toss but the wheels fell off after the dismissals of Craig Williams (29 off 36) and skipper Gerhard Erasmus (20 off 19).
Smit (12 not out) was the only other batter to make double figures for Namibia who lost 8-28.
Off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) was named man of the match after combining with leggie Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (2-24) and Lahiru Kumara (2-9) to rip through Namibia.
Australian Associated Press
