Co-hosts Sri Lanka have commenced their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a 20-run victory over Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Dasun Shanaka’s team was in massive trouble after getting put into bat first by Ireland.
Despite a solid start in the powerplay, 50/1, Sri Lanka lost control. In the middle overs, 7 to 15, Sri Lanka scored just 45 runs and lost 3 wickets. During this period, Sri Lanka didn’t score even one boundary. Kusal Mendis was well set, and Kamindu Mendis had just arrived. Even getting to 150 seemed difficult.
That’s when Ireland decided to help Sri Lanka. In the 17th over, two catches were dropped. Kusal and Kamindu both got a reprieve. Both were regulation takes. There was another half-chance that the fielder, Barry McCarthy, didn’t get his hand on due to miscalculation.
In the 18th over, Kusal got another reprieve. Ireland had all the control but let the game slip. In the 18th over, McCarthy gave away 19 runs. This included a shoulder-high no-ball, four wides, and a total of 11 deliveries bowled. Amid the chaos, Kamindu scored 44 from 19 balls.
Kusal got his half-century in the last over, from 39 balls. It was a good knock, no doubt, but Kamindu had already done the damage. That and Ireland’s horrendous fielding. Sri Lanka smashed 68 runs in the last 5 overs, and that proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Sri Lanka wasn’t exactly spotless in the field either. In the first 4 overs, they dropped 2 catches. But it was 2 less than Ireland’s 4. Of course, Sri Lanka’s spinners were a lot better than Ireland’s, but it was fielding and Kamindu’s knock where the co-hosts won.
Sri Lanka kick off T20 World Cup with a win, thanks to Kamindu Mendis’ whirlwind cameo Inside Sport India.
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