At the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, co-hosts Sri Lanka defeated Ireland by 20 runs to begin their T20 World Cup campaign. Sri Lanka lost six wickets while managing 163 runs in the allotted overs after being asked to bat first. Despite their best efforts, Ireland managed to score 143 runs in 19.5 overs. Kusal Mendis, a batsman and wicketkeeper for Sri Lanka, hit an undefeated 56 from 43 balls. After 14 overs, they were struggling at 87/4, but Kusal and Kamindu Mendis, who both scored 44 off just 19 balls, put up a 67-run partnership off 29 balls to help the hosts surpass 160. Following a dreary middle-overs phase in which Ireland’s spinners maintained the choke and failed to give up a single boundary, the pair’s late attack turned the batting around for the tournament co-hosts. Harry Tector went on to score 40 runs for Ireland. Wanindu Hasaranga took three wickets for twenty-five, while Mahesh Theekshana grabbed three wickets for twenty-three.
T20 World Cup clash: Sri Lanka defeats Ireland by 20 runs
