Sri Lanka opened their T20 World Cup 2026 marketing campaign with a hard-fought 20-run victory over Eire in Colombo. After being put in to bat, the co-hosts recovered from a mid-innings droop to put up a aggressive 163/6, because of important half-centuries from Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis.
Eire’s chase seemed promising at 104/2, however the introduction of Sri Lanka’s elite spin duo turned the sport on its head. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga dismantled the center order, taking three wickets apiece to set off a dramatic collapse. Eire ultimately completed on 143/9 because the required run charge climbed out of attain within the closing overs. This win marks an ideal begin for the Lions in entrance of their house crowd, securing two essential factors in Group B.
T20 World Cup 2026: Mendis duo rescues Sri Lanka after middle-order stutter towards Eire
The Sri Lankan innings started with excessive power however shortly confronted resistance from a disciplined Irish bowling assault led by Mark Adair and George Dockrell. After shedding Kamil Mishara early, Pathum Nissanka and Mendis tried to stabilize, but Dockrell’s double strike within the center overs left the co-hosts reeling at 86/4 by the 14th over. Simply because the run charge started to stagnate, Kamindu entered and utterly shifted the momentum with a blistering 44 off simply 19 balls, together with 4 boundaries and two huge sixes.
His aggression allowed Mendis to anchor the opposite finish, ultimately ending unbeaten on 56 off 43 deliveries to information the staff to a defendable whole of 163. The ultimate flourish was significantly chaotic, as Barry McCarthy bowled a record-tying 11-ball nineteenth over that featured a number of wides but additionally the important thing wickets of Kamindu and captain Dasun Shanaka. Regardless of the inconsistencies, Sri Lanka’s late-over surge supplied their bowlers with the cushion wanted to use strain on a slowing Premadasa floor.
Additionally WATCH: T20 World Cup 2026: Maheesh Theekshana castles Paul Stirling with deadly yorker; unleashes iconic ‘archer’ celebration during SL vs IRE clash
T20 World Cup 2206: Spin twins Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga set off Eire collapse
Eire’s pursuit of 164 began with intent as Ross Adair supplied a fiery begin, and the partnership between Harry Tector (40) and Lorcan Tucker (21) positioned them ready of energy at 104/2. Nevertheless, the sport reworked within the fifteenth over when Hasaranga eliminated Tector, sparking a collapse that noticed Eire lose seven wickets for simply 39 runs. Theekshana was equally deadly, eradicating Paul Stirling early earlier than returning to scrub up the decrease center order together with his trademark thriller spin, ending with elite figures of three/23.
Hasaranga’s third wicket, dismissing Curtis Campher, was a private milestone because it marked his fortieth profession wicket in T20 World Cups, transferring him to second on the all-time listing behind Shakib Al Hasan. Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana supplied the tempo assist to make sure there was no late-order miracle for the guests. By the point the ultimate over arrived, the equation of 27 runs was an excessive amount of for Dockrell and Adair to deal with towards Pathirana’s pinpoint yorkers.
Right here’s how followers reacted:
Sri Lanka beat Eire by 20 runs. Eire have solely themselves guilty for this defeat; they have been very poor within the subject over the past 4 overs and gave away too many freebies, which price them the sport.#T20worldcup #SLvIRE
— Tariq Khan (@_TariqKhan) February 8, 2026
Elite efficiency by Sri Lanka’s spinners, together with an injured Hasaranga.
Wellalage was fairly good too, and Theekshana was the decide of all of them.
— Behram Qazi 🇵🇰 🇨🇦 (@DeafMango) February 8, 2026
This World Cup retains delivering 😂 Hasaranga will get a wicket utilizing one leg! #T20WorldCup
— Eems (@NaeemahBenjamin) February 8, 2026
Thank God within the final minute Sri Lanka ditched Dhananjaya de Silva plans and drafted in Kamindu Mendis to the World Cup squad.
— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) February 8, 2026
First recreation, first WIN! 🦁🔥
Our #T20WorldCup journey begins with a bang as we defeat Eire by 20 runs. Nice shift from the boys to defend the entire! 💪 #SriLankaCricket #SLvIRE pic.twitter.com/opMit2uThM
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 8, 2026
Wanindu Hasaranga on one leg, picked up 3 wickets. What a champion cricketer he’s..
Effectively completed champ 👏👏#SLvIRE #T20WorldCup2026
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) February 8, 2026
Theekshana delivers. Particular participant for @OfficialSLC
— Dominic Machado (@DominicMachado1) February 8, 2026
– 3 wickets for Theekshana.
– 3 wickets for Hasaranga.🚨 SRI LANKA DEFEATED IRELAND IN T20 WORLD CUP 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Iv2AG9mwXJ
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 8, 2026
One other small staff that was good in phases however could not get alongside!!
I’m upset being Searching for upset!!
Eire felt quick towards Srilanka!!
All of 6 matches of two days have been good with 160-180 period of T20 Cricket quite than bullshit flat tracks!!#T20WorldCup2026 #SLvIRE— baddhakist_thelazygenius (@BaddhakistT) February 8, 2026
Sri Lanka secures a 20-run victory over Eire after a disciplined efficiency within the subject 🌟#Cricket #SLvIRE #SriLankaCricket #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/eYGvPZazzU
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 8, 2026
Additionally WATCH: T20 World Cup 2026: Pavan Rathnayake throws away wicket with reckless shot during SL vs IRE clash
