COLOMBO: A composed half-century from Kusal Mendis, combined with a dominant spin display by Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, guided Sri Lanka to a 20-run victory over Ireland in the fifth match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday.
Defending a competitive total of 163, Sri Lanka’s bowlers delivered a disciplined effort to bowl Ireland out for 143 in 19.5 overs, despite a brief middle-order resistance.
Ireland’s chase began cautiously, with the openers adding 24 runs inside the first four overs. However, the momentum was halted early when experienced opener Paul Stirling fell for six, triggering pressure on the Irish batting unit.
Harry Tector and Ross Adair attempted to rebuild the innings with a steady partnership, taking Ireland to 56 for one after eight overs. Adair looked fluent during his knock but was dismissed for 34, leaving Ireland needing stability once again.
The responsibility then fell on Tector and wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker, who stitched together a valuable 49-run stand. Their partnership kept Ireland in contention as the score crossed 100 in the 15th over, raising hopes of a late surge.
Just as the chase appeared to gain momentum, Sri Lanka’s spinners struck decisively. Theekshana and Hasaranga applied relentless pressure, forcing mistimed shots and regular breakthroughs. Ireland lost wickets in quick succession, failing to sustain partnerships in the closing stages.
Tector remained Ireland’s highest scorer with a patient 40 off 34 deliveries, though his innings lacked boundary support. Ireland were eventually dismissed short of the target, unable to complete their full quota of overs.
Theekshana and Hasaranga were the standout performers with the ball, combining for six wickets and effectively shutting down Ireland’s scoring options during the middle overs.
Earlier, Sri Lanka showed resilience after being put in to bat first. Openers provided a steady start before Kamil Mishara was dismissed for 14, followed by a cautious partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis.
Ireland’s bowlers maintained tight lines and were rewarded as Sri Lanka slipped to 68 for three midway through the innings. Despite the pressure, Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with maturity, finding gaps and rotating the strike effectively.
A crucial turning point came through a blistering partnership between Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis. Capitalizing on missed chances by Ireland, the duo added 67 runs at a rapid pace, swinging the momentum firmly in Sri Lanka’s favor.
Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on 56 from 43 balls, striking five boundaries, while Kamindu Mendis played a game-changing cameo of 44 off just 19 deliveries, including two sixes and four fours.
Ireland’s bowling effort was led by George Dockrell and Barry McCarthy, who claimed two wickets each, but lapses in the field proved costly.
The win strengthens Sri Lanka’s position in the tournament and highlights their depth in both spin bowling and middle-order batting as the T20 World Cup gathers momentum.
