Colombo (Sri Lanka) – Sri Lanka’s entry into the T20 World Cup was a success on Sunday, as they produced brilliant wrist-spin bowling against a competitive Ireland team to claim their first victory of the tournament by 20 runs in R. Premadasa Stadium. While the final score of 163 for six seemed subpar, the Irish were to be disappointed in not reaching the target because Sri Lankan spin and cleverness restricted the Irish batting.
In this match, the first story was about the Sri Lankan middle-order batsmen changing their fortunes. After 16 overs, Sri Lanka had scored 3 runs for 104 runs; however, the Irish used spin bowlers very well to keep the run scoring down. Kamindu was dropped at 14 runs and scored just 4 runs from his next eleven balls, finishing with a total score of 44 off 55 balls. Kamindu’s dropped catch gave the team a chance to build momentum without losing a wicket. Kusal Mendis then built on Kamindu’s accomplishments in the last few overs of the innings by having an outstanding innings of 56 runs not out.
From the outset of Ireland’s innings, things looked good for them. While Paul Stirling was dismissed cheaply from a yorker bowled by Maheesh Theekshana early on, his opening partner Ross Adair and Harry Tector batted well together to put on 49 runs and keep Ireland in the hunt. However, after the first 10 overs where pace was the key, the second episode belonged to the spin bowlers of Sri Lanka. Wanindu Hasaranga, who was suffering from a hamstring injury yet continued to bowl through the pain, and Theekshana both bowled magnificently, finishing with 3 wickets each as Ireland was all out for 143. Hasaranga’s injury made for a dramatic subplot to his performance, as his run-up was short and he didn’t follow through after releasing the ball, but his variations were still impactful.
Furthermore, Ireland’s missed chances in the field cost them a more comfortable position. According to ESPN, there were seven dropped chances, which ultimately proved extremely costly, as they allowed Kamindu and Kusal to put together a partnership and take Sri Lanka back into the match when they needed it the most. These missed opportunities culminated in a ridiculously long 19th over – one of the longest in T20 World Cup history – which changed the course of the match to the home team. In a tournament that has marginal differences, Ireland did not make good use of the catching currency that would have allowed them to win.
Kamindu Mendis was rightly awarded Player of the Match because he didn’t just top score but made a significant change to the way the game was played. The all-rounder’s excellent finish — where he had plenty of time to settle into his innings before launching into a series of powerful shots — represents the type of tremendous rear-guard fireworks that modern-day T20 teams are willing to pay for: a combination of spontaneity, timing and the mental strength to capitalise on opportunities as they arise. Sri Lanka’s middle order reminded viewers that the last five overs in T20 matches usually account for the majority of runs.
Looking beyond the statistics, this result reflects Sri Lanka’s unique DNA as a cricketing nation, as they were able to be contained early in their innings but could still produce magical spin and clever tactics once the game became tight. For Ireland, the positives were certainly evident with Tector and Tucker both showing their composure and aggression, but the overriding lesson from the evening’s game will lie in maintaining discipline both in the field and in executing opportunities when they arise. Conversely, Sri Lanka will leave the Colombo crowd with plenty to be happy about through their positive start, great match-winning spin bowlers, and a stark reminder that in T20 World Cups, the momentum of matches can change with just one over.
(Scorecard overview: Sri Lanka 163/6 and Ireland 143 all out – Kamindu Mendis won the Player of the Match; Theekshana took 3 wickets for 23 runs, and Hasaranga took 3 wickets for 25 runs.)
Fans of chess-like spin bowling and fireworks coming from the lower middle order should follow Sri Lanka’s subsequent matches. They have demonstrated they can make up for high scores by both holding huge gaps on the scoreboard and creating late-inning surprises that lead to significant changes in group tables.
