If the first couple of matches of the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup is anything to go by, we’re going to be in for quite the tournament. Namibia, Scotland, and the Netherlands have made massive statements over the first couple of days of play.

Our Northerly neighbours had a great opportunity to put a foot in the next round of the tournament, but let it slip through their fingers.

All they had to do was see off the Dutch, but their batting let them down. Namibia did a fantastic job to stay in the fight, and though it went down to the wire, the 121 total was just too little to defend.

Netherlands clinch yet another last-over thriller and go on top of Group A in First Round 👏

📝 Scorecard: https://t.co/P8VXjFvCXX

Head to our app and website to follow #T20WorldCup action 👉 https://t.co/wGiqb2epBe pic.twitter.com/RizWq7BEUA

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 18, 2022

How do teams get to the next round?

The first round of the tournament is currently being decided in Australia. Eight teams in two groups are fighting to earn passage through to the next round, where teams like the Proteas, Australia, England and India lay and wait.

Of the eight teams in the first round, four will move on to the next phase of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Moving on will be the group winner and the runner-up.

The two big teams expected to advance are the West Indies and Sri Lanka. The latter are the 2022 Asia Cup winners and both are former T20 World champions.

Netherlands, Scotland and Namibia in the driver’s seat

In what is an absolute shock, both teams sit in the last place in their respective groups. Both had tournament openers to forget. Sri Lanka fell to a massive 55-run loss to Namibia, while the Windies fell to Scotland by 42-runs.

Scotland have rocked West Indies with a flurry of wickets in Hobart ☝️#T20WorldCup | #WIvSCO | 📝 https://t.co/zYWEnEHtif pic.twitter.com/imqldrgCqi

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2022

Amazingly, it is the Netherlands who top Group A, after a narrow, nail-biting win over Namibia early on Tuesday morning.

Sri Lanka at risk of not qualifying

While Sri Lanka faces the United Arab Emirates and is sure to claim victory, a loss against the Dutch on Thursday could see their campaign come to a premature end.

Read More: Mixed results in URC Weekend