The action continued in the 20-20 World Cup on the second day of the Super 12 stage as Ireland and Sri Lanka went against each other. Irish captain Andrew Balbirnie won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling walked out to the crease to give a blistering start to their team. However, Balbirnie couldn’t do much as he departed in the second over of the innings after scoring just one run.
Ireland lost another wicket in Lorcan Tucker on the score of 26 after 4.4 overs. Meanwhile, Paul Stirling looked good in touch as he took the attack on the opposition by scoring consistent boundaries. Ireland lost four wickets for just 60 runs after 10 overs.
Harry Tector took the innings forward with his steady knock but he didn’t get much support from the rest of the batters. Tector was dismissed for a well-made 45 off 42 balls in the 18th over. Ireland finished their inning with 128 runs on the board for the loss of eight wickets.
Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga picked up two wickets each for Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan openers Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya De Silva gave a great start to their chase adding 63 runs in just 8.2 overs. Both the openers didn’t let the Irish bowlers settle and launched an all-out attack on them. Captain Balbirnie was left searching for answers with Sri Lanka taking the game away with every ball.
Ireland got their first success in the ninth over as Dhananjaya De Silvas was dismissed by Gareth Delany. De Silva departed for 31 off 25 balls with the help of two fours and one sixes in his innings. De Silva’s dismissal brought Charith Asalanka to the crease who played second fiddle to the well-set Kusal Mendis.
Mendis gave no respite to Ireland as he scored five boundaries and three massive sixes in his innings. He remained unbeaten on 68 off 43 balls taking Sri Lanka home in just 15 overs. Asalanka remained unbeaten on 31 off 22 balls with the help of two fours.
Courtesy of this win, Sri Lanka are now placed on the second spot in Group 2 with a net run rate of 2.467. Here’s how Twitter reacted to Sri Lanka’s thumping victory:
NRR! 🔥🥹#SLvsIRE #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/enAQyTTNDO
— Damisha (@Thedmdvbd) October 23, 2022
Sealed with a Mendis special 6 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Done & dusted in exactly 15 overs.
All 3 batters had a good outing and this will do good for our confidence for the next match vs Defending champions #SLvsIRE #T20WorldCup— Loshan – ARVLOSHAN (@ARVLoshan) October 23, 2022
Win and more importantly a dominant one which will be crucial towards the end of the of the tournament. Well played Sri Lanka. #SLvsIRE #Hobart #T20WC2022 pic.twitter.com/yok3v8RdQT
— Nalinda Herath (@nalirockz) October 23, 2022
Two steps at a time! Winning and winning with a huge net run rate. Clinical from #SriLankan #T20WorldCup #SLvsIRE
— A.J.Azeezul Haq (@lankamail) October 23, 2022
Kusal Mendis ❤️👌 What a brilliant inning. ❤️ Consistency and class 😻🙌🏻 wow 🫶🏻#SLvsIRE#T20WorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/CvLqPxnvcd
— Pathma Kumara Bandarigoda (@Mr_pappa29) October 23, 2022
Here we go The Asian Champs Open the Account With Huge Victory 🔥🔥
Stilll Long way to Go @OfficialSLC 💪🏽
Good Job Boisss 👏👏👏 @Sundarwashi5@dasunshanaka1#SLvsIRE#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/6KuKkb7jke
— Chandra Jack Sparrow 🤠🤠 (@Chandraa5183) October 23, 2022
In the 10th over I said below. In the 14th over @irbishi said SL should try to finish it in the next 2.3 overs. Asalanka and Mendis did even better. Brilliant effort by the batters. @OfficialSLC #SLvsIRE #T20WorldCup https://t.co/yIPTzg4iao
— Ricky Simms (@ricky_simms) October 23, 2022
Comprehensive victory! 👊🏼
Onwards & upwards! 🔥#T20WorldCup #SLvsIRE— Mohammed Arshaad (@Arshaad97) October 23, 2022
Each member did their best..honestly proud of them❤️#SLvsIRE #t20worldcup
— Ama⁷ (@ama_devi_) October 23, 2022
Woohooo 🥳🇱🇰 Congratulations team!
Next up Aussies 😰
— StrangeSpidey (@navoda115) October 23, 2022
What a way to start the tournament 🔥🔥🔥 classy victory against Ireland 🔥🔥
Congratulations @OfficialSLC @dasunshanaka1 and team. A long way to go ❤️❤️
Very well done @KusalMendis13 🔥🔥 #SLvsIRE#T20WC2022
— Sarfan Akram (@SarfanAkram) October 23, 2022
