Sri Lanka start T20 World Cup campaign with win

Monday, 9 February 2026 02:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Defeat Ireland by 20 runs

Following a dismal series against England when they were whitewashed 3-0, Sri Lanka began their T20 World Cup campaign on a winning note by beating Ireland by 20 runs at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Sri Lanka posted a score of 163-6 and bowled Ireland out for 143 to secure two points from the win from Group B.

Sri Lanka made an incredible recovery from the position they were in at one stage – 86-4 in the 14th over – to post their final total. They were unable to score a single boundary between the 7th and 15th overs as the Ireland spinners had them in a chokehold.

But a flurry of dropped catches, along with some good hitting from Player of the Match Kamindu Mendis, turned the tide at the death. As many as 59 were scored in the last four overs, which included an 11-ball phase from Barry McCarthy. The wheels came off for Ireland with Matthew Humphreys and McCarthy going for 21-run and 19-run overs, respectively. Kamindu smashed 44 off just 19 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes), while Kusal Mendis made full use of the dropped chances to hit an unbeaten 56 off 43 balls (5 fours). The pair added 67 off 29 balls and Ireland surely would have been disappointed with the way things fell apart for them.

Kamindu was a late change made to the Sri Lanka T20 World Cup squad, replacing Dhananjaya de Silva, and he didn’t let them down, proving his worth.

Ireland would have fancied a score of around 140 or so on a pitch that was on the slower side. At 105-2, they were looking good for the final assault. But the wickets of Lorcan Tucker (21) and Harry Tector (40 of 34 balls, 1 four) totally turned things around. They were the set batters and the game slipped away from Ireland after that. In the end, they lost by 20, when one expected them to get much closer, if not win.

Earlier, skipper Paul Stirling fell cheaply but the partnership of 49 off 38 balls between Tucker and Tector gave Ireland hope. Sri Lanka through their catching and fielding were a marked contrast to Ireland, who were woeful.

Wanindu Hasaranga put on a heroic effort battling with hamstring issues to complete four overs and taking three crucial wickets that saw him go past Lasith Malinga (38 wickets from 31 matches) as the highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in T20 World Cups. Hasaranga with 40 wickets (20 matches) currently stands second behind Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan (50 from 43). He was not able to complete his action and didn’t put much effort behind the ball, but still he gave it his all for his team. Maheesh Theekshana too came good in this game with three wickets with support from the others.