Ireland all out for 143 runs

In reply to Sri Lanka’s 163 runs, Ireland had a bad start. Captain Paul Stirling was out after scoring 6 runs in the fourth over. After this, Ross Adair (34) made a partnership with Harry Tactor (40), but Adair was bowled by Hasaranga. From here the Sri Lankan team kept getting wickets continuously and the Irish batsmen were not successful in making any partnership. Lorcan Tucker scored 21 runs and Curtis Campher scored 13 runs. Apart from the brilliant game of Hasaranga and Teekshana for Sri Lanka, Mathisha Pathirana also took 2 wickets.

Sri Lanka scored 163 runs

Earlier, on the basis of Kamindu Mendis’ 44 runs in 19 balls and Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten half-century, Sri Lanka, after a bad start, scored 163 runs for 6 wickets in the T20 World Cup match against Ireland on Sunday. Wicketkeeper Kusal scored 56 runs in 43 balls with the help of five fours and made a partnership of 67 runs with Kamindu for the fifth wicket. Kamindu hit four fours and two sixes in his innings. At one time Sri Lanka’s score was 86 runs for four wickets in the 14th over.

Ireland’s fielding was poor

Sri Lanka also benefited from poor fielding by Ireland who dropped some catches. Ireland’s decision to choose to bowl first seemed to be proven correct when Sri Lanka could score only 28 runs in the first four overs and also lost the wicket of Kamil Mishra (14). Mishara also got a lease of life, which he could not take advantage of and was caught in mid-off by a slow ball from Mark Adair.

50 runs were scored till powerplay

Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka scored 24 runs in 23 balls. He hit a six to left-arm spinner Matthew Humphrey over deep square leg and it seemed that he would play a big innings. Kusal Mendis hit three fours off Barry McCarthy in the sixth over to take Sri Lanka to 50 for one after the powerplay.

After this, Ireland captain Paul Stirling handed the ball to left-arm spinner George Dockrell, who gave only four runs in the first over. Dockrell tempted Nissanka with a slow ball who was caught by Stirling at cover. After this, his next victim became Pawan Ratnayake who lost his wicket due to playing bad shots. Sri Lanka’s score was 68 runs for three wickets in the 11th over. Dockrell took two wickets for 17 runs. Jareth Delany increased Sri Lanka’s problems by sending Dunith Velalage to the pavilion. After this, however, Kamindu and Kusal took over the innings.