143/10 (19.5)
CR : 7.21
163/6 (20.0)
CR : 8.15
Sri Lanka won by 20 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Kamindu Mendis
44(19)
SL won by 20 runs
10:48 PM IST, Local Time: Sri Lanka hold their nerves to secure a comfortable 20-run win over Ireland and start their campaign on a winning note. The spinners did the trick for them on a pitch that was supposed to be a batting paradise. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana picked up three wickets apiece to break the back of Ireland's chase.
Earlier in the game, Ireland won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Irish started well and kept the batters in check. At the halfway stage, Sri Lanka were 68/2.
Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis led the fightback with a partnership of 67 off just 29 balls to take the hosts well above the 150-run mark. They ended with 163/6 from their 20 overs.
Pathum Nissanka looked dangerous at the top but was dismissed by George Dockrell. Kamil Mishara made 14 and Dunith Wellalage chipped in with 10 runs. Kusal Mendis remained not out on 56 off 43. Kamindu Mendis scored 44 off 19.
Dockrell and Barry McCarthy got two wickets each, while Mark Adair and Gareth Delany got one each.
In reply, Ireland lost Paul Stirling in the 4th over. Ross Adair and Harry Tector added 32 off 28. Tector then joined hands with Lorcan Tucker to stitch a 49-run stand for the third wicket.
The middle-order was blown away by an injured Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. They were eventually bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
Theekshana and Hasaranga got three wickets each. Matheesha Pathirana got two, while Dushmantha Chameera and Dunith Wellalage got one apiece.
Earlier in the game, Ireland won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Irish started well and kept the batters in check. At the halfway stage, Sri Lanka were 68/2.
Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis led the fightback with a partnership of 67 off just 29 balls to take the hosts well above the 150-run mark. They ended with 163/6 from their 20 overs.
Pathum Nissanka looked dangerous at the top but was dismissed by George Dockrell. Kamil Mishara made 14 and Dunith Wellalage chipped in with 10 runs. Kusal Mendis remained not out on 56 off 43. Kamindu Mendis scored 44 off 19.
Dockrell and Barry McCarthy got two wickets each, while Mark Adair and Gareth Delany got one each.
In reply, Ireland lost Paul Stirling in the 4th over. Ross Adair and Harry Tector added 32 off 28. Tector then joined hands with Lorcan Tucker to stitch a 49-run stand for the third wicket.
The middle-order was blown away by an injured Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. They were eventually bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
Theekshana and Hasaranga got three wickets each. Matheesha Pathirana got two, while Dushmantha Chameera and Dunith Wellalage got one apiece.
Most instances of a bowler taking 3+ wickets in an innings in the T20 WC
7 - Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)*
6 - Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)
7 - Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)*
6 - Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka), Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)
Player of the Match: Kamindu Mendis
Kamindu Mendis (Player of the Match): "When I got to the middle, I wanted to keep my momentum, score as many runs as possible and build a partnership with Kusal Mendis.
(On the Irish run chase) They played really well till the 16th over. But credit goes to our bowlers — Wanindu (Hasaranga), Maheesh (Theekshana) and Dushmantha (Chameera). They bowled really well and kept them under 150.
(On the pitch) We thought that it will be a 170+ wicket. But when we played the spinners, we thought it might be more a 160 kind of wicket. We were glad to put 160 on the board.
Good start to the tournament. The boys did really well. And, they are in a good mindset."
(On the Irish run chase) They played really well till the 16th over. But credit goes to our bowlers — Wanindu (Hasaranga), Maheesh (Theekshana) and Dushmantha (Chameera). They bowled really well and kept them under 150.
(On the pitch) We thought that it will be a 170+ wicket. But when we played the spinners, we thought it might be more a 160 kind of wicket. We were glad to put 160 on the board.
Good start to the tournament. The boys did really well. And, they are in a good mindset."
Most Overs by Spinners in a T20 WC Match
26.0 Overs - Australia vs Pakistan, Colombo (RPS), 2012
25.4 Overs - India vs West Indies, Mirpur, 2014
25.0 Overs - Pakistan vs West Indies, Mirpur, 2014
25.0 Overs - Sri Lanka vs Ireland, Colombo (RPS), 2026*
26.0 Overs - Australia vs Pakistan, Colombo (RPS), 2012
25.4 Overs - India vs West Indies, Mirpur, 2014
25.0 Overs - Pakistan vs West Indies, Mirpur, 2014
25.0 Overs - Sri Lanka vs Ireland, Colombo (RPS), 2026*
Paul Stirling (Ireland Captain): [On thoughts at the halfway mark] To be honest, halfway through, we thought they got 15-20 too many. At the start of the day, we would have been happy chasing 160. That is the sort of note said on the wicket. I think we can find 20 runs anywhere in the match.
[On the last 6 overs in the first innings] When the match was on the line, we probably were not as clinical as we liked to be. A little bit sloppy in the field as well. Plenty of areas we need to come back with in a couple of days time against Australia.
[How to manage situations where things don't go your way] I think experience told today. Sri Lanka in both innings, that was the difference. Those 20 runs, they defended back in the back end. We thought we were in the game with wickets in hand but they really upped the ante and put the squeeze on.
You can sit back and reflect at the end of the day, they were 20 runs better than us throughout the whole match.
[On spin being a challenge] I think spin is going to be a challenge in this competition. Certainly it wasn't coming onto the bat as we thought it could have been. I think spin is going to dominate this part of the game."
[On the last 6 overs in the first innings] When the match was on the line, we probably were not as clinical as we liked to be. A little bit sloppy in the field as well. Plenty of areas we need to come back with in a couple of days time against Australia.
[How to manage situations where things don't go your way] I think experience told today. Sri Lanka in both innings, that was the difference. Those 20 runs, they defended back in the back end. We thought we were in the game with wickets in hand but they really upped the ante and put the squeeze on.
You can sit back and reflect at the end of the day, they were 20 runs better than us throughout the whole match.
[On spin being a challenge] I think spin is going to be a challenge in this competition. Certainly it wasn't coming onto the bat as we thought it could have been. I think spin is going to dominate this part of the game."
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka captain): "Well earned victory, I must say. Very happy about the all-round performance tonight.
The start was a bit of struggle. Kusal held up one end. But Kamindu's cameo turned the game around. He batted like he was on a different pitch. Happy for his come back. Expect a lot from him in the coming games.
I expected the wicket to be a bit flatter, with some grass left on it. I initially thought that the toss will play a big part. But it (losing the toss) rather helped us.
The confidence in the bowling carried from the last game. Wanindu got some issue with his hamstring. Hopefully, it won't be serious. Maheesh Theekshana bowled really well in the middle overs. Really happy with the bowling."
The start was a bit of struggle. Kusal held up one end. But Kamindu's cameo turned the game around. He batted like he was on a different pitch. Happy for his come back. Expect a lot from him in the coming games.
I expected the wicket to be a bit flatter, with some grass left on it. I initially thought that the toss will play a big part. But it (losing the toss) rather helped us.
The confidence in the bowling carried from the last game. Wanindu got some issue with his hamstring. Hopefully, it won't be serious. Maheesh Theekshana bowled really well in the middle overs. Really happy with the bowling."
So three more games are done in this T20 World Cup. An associate nation came within touching distance of causing an upset, but Nepal just fell short against two-time champions England in the afternoon clash. On either side, there were two comfortable wins for New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
We have three more games coming up tomorrow. Do join us for that and more cricketing action from all over the world. Till then, this is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues Darpan Tikiya, Zeeshan Naiyer and Aman. Good night.
We have three more games coming up tomorrow. Do join us for that and more cricketing action from all over the world. Till then, this is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues Darpan Tikiya, Zeeshan Naiyer and Aman. Good night.