Sri Lanka’s spinners asserted their authority over Ireland in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, February 8, guiding the hosts to a 20-run victory at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Wanindu Hasaranga (3/25) and Maheesh Theekshana (3/23) took full advantage of the favorable conditions to help Sri Lanka start their campaign with an emphatic win.
Chasing a target of 164, Ireland were firmly in control of the chase, with Harry Tector (40 off 34) and Lorcan Tucker (21 off 18) adding 49 runs for the third wicket from just 38 deliveries. Needing 60 runs from the last six overs, the Irish bounced back to complete the chase, with two well-set batsmen at the crease.
However, Dunith Wellalage broke the momentum by dismissing Tucker, who was caught at long-on. Tector followed in the very next over, hauling to deep mid-wicket against Hasaranza to leave Ireland in deep trouble. There was no recovery after that as Hasaranga and Theekshana spun a web around the batsmen to bowl Ireland out for 143 in 19.4 overs.
The duo varied their pace remarkably and beat the Irish batsmen in flight who found it difficult to decipher their variations. Hasaranga and Theekshana’s remarkable show has put the other teams on notice as the Lankan Lions will make full use of their strength in home conditions and promise victory in the campaign ahead.
World Cup T20: Sri Lanka vs Ireland Highlights
Earlier, after being put into bat, Sri Lanka made a measured start to their innings as Pathum Nissanka (24 off 23) and Kamil Mishara (14 off 11) added 28 runs for the first wicket off 24 balls. Just when it looked like Mishara was about to pick up the pace, he shot through the middle of the match against Mark Adair.
After losing early, Nissanka continued to build his innings alongside Kusal Mendis, with the pair putting on 34 runs for the second wicket from 26 balls. However, the opener struggled in the order and found it difficult to score freely against the spinners. His scrappy strike finally ended when he hit straight at Paul Stirling off George Dockrell (2/17).
Mendis duo save Sri Lanka
The left-arm spinner struck again in his very next over when Pavan Rathnayake (5 off 9) suffered a moment of bad judgment as he tried to chip Dockrell, only to be fouled by the stumps. Gareth Delany (1/24) provided excellent support from the other end, stifling the Sri Lankan batting through the middle overs.
Delany later removed Dunith Wellalage (10 off 13), sending him back to the pavilion to leave the hosts in motion at 86/4 in 13.5 overs. The Sri Lankan batsmen had few answers to the Irish spin duo who used run and guile to fool the hosts and give them a taste of their own medicine.
In the end, it required a tremendous effort from the Mendis duo – Kusal (56* off 43) and Kamindu (44 off 19) – who put together a crucial 67-run partnership from just 29 balls for the fifth wicket, taking Sri Lanka’s total past the 160-run mark.
Courtesy of this counter-attack, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 163/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Kusal Mendis was later named man of the match for his courage and composed innings on a tricky surface.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
February 8, 2026