SL vs IRE: Since losing their first match in the 20-20 World Cup, Sri Lanka have only registered wins. On Sunday, the Island nation thumped Ireland by 9 wickets to register their first win in the Super 12 stage. Sri Lanka put in a brilliant performance with the ball to restrict the Irish team to just 128 runs in the first innings.
Sterling gave the team a good start with a 34-run knock in just 25 balls. However, two wickets fell as well in the power play. Sterling couldn’t convert his start into a big score, while the likes of Tucker (10), Campher (2), and Dockrell got out cheaply.
Sri Lankan spinners M Theekshana (2 for 19) and Hasaranga (2 for 25) made life difficult for the batters as the duo picked four wickets between them. Harry Tector (45 off 42) played a handy knock with the bat but Ireland would have wanted him to stay for a bit longer.
Ireland needed to pick early wickets with the ball but the likes of Kusal Mendis and de Silva didn’t allow them one. The duo added 63 runs for the opening wicket before de Silva got out in the 9th over. Mendis, however, remained unbeaten on 68 off 43 deliveries, helping his team chase down the target in 15 overs.
Charith Asalanka also gave him valuable support as he also remained unbeaten on 31 off 22 deliveries. For Ireland, Gareth Delany picked 1 wicket for 28 runs in 4 overs. Joshua Little proved expensive, conceding 0 for 45 in 4 overs.
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