ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka down Ireland to begin campaign on winning note

By M. Shamil Amit

Sri Lanka began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a winning note with a comfortable 20 runs win over Ireland in the sixth match of the tournament played under floodlights at R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Ireland in their run chase of 164 runs after making some good effort in the early stages of the innings lost their way as they were let down by the middle and late order batsmen.

From a position of 72 for 2 at the halfway stage of the innings they lost wickets at regular intervals. They lost their third wicket with the score on 105 in the 15th over but lost four quick wickets for the addition of just 21 runs and slid to 126 for 7 in the 18th over before being bowled out for a score of 143 runs

The foundation for Sri Lanka’s win were laid by Mendis duo Kusal and Kamindu and later in the day it was the spin trio Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage who together shared seven wickets along with pacies Maheesha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera did the finishing to guide co-host Sri Lanka to victory.

Earlier Sri Lanka invited to take first lease of the wicket by Ireland skipper Paul Stirling made steady progress with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara accumulating their runs with ease.

Nissanka in particular was playing with confidence while Mishara was a bit unsteady and he was lucky to be given two lives in one over but he did not last and on the third occasion he ran out of luck as he fell victim to right arm pacie Mark Adair having made 14 off 11 balls and Sri Lanka’s score on 28.

Nissanka joined by Kusal Mendis posted Sri Lanka’s 50 runs on the board which came off in 36 balls and six runs later the pair was separated with the dismissal of Nissanka who hit 24 off 23 that included a boundary and a six having shared a 34 runs stand for the second dwicket with Mendis.

Pawan Ratnayake who walked in next and from whom much was expected did not last long as he faced only nine balls being dismissed going in for an awkward stroke off a delivery of left arm spinner George Dockrell which saw Sri Lanka at the halfway stage of the innings on 68 for 3.

Dunith Wellalage too did not last long being dismissed having made 10 in 13 balls which saw Kamindu Mendis joining Kusal putting in stiff resistance with Kamindu being harsh and paying scant respect to the bowlers and in the process Kusal survived a decision that was challenged which was upheld and this followed with the pair posting Sri Lanka’s 100 runs on the board coming in 93 balls. This followed with the pair posting their 50 runs stand that took them just 26 balls and Sri Lanka was dealt a double blow by right arm pacie Barry McCarthy who separated with the wicket of Kamindu Mendis and skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Kamindu hit a quick-fire 19 ball 44 runs which had four boundaries and two sixes whilst sharing a valuable 67 runs for the fifth wicket. McCarthy aiming for a hat-trick was denied by Wanindu Hasaranga and Kusal raced to his half ton which took him 39 balls which comprised five boundaries.

Mendis and Hasaranga succeeded to deny further success for the Ireland bowlers as they held on for Sri Lanka to end their innings on 163 for 6 and Mendis remained unbeaten on 56 made in 43 balls with five boundaries.

PIX by Kushan Pathiraja