Sri Lanka has shown that last weekend’s stunning defeat at the hands of Namibia is a thing of the past after comfortably easing past Ireland at the T20 World Cup.
Up against an in-form Ireland side that had dispatched the West Indies in its last outing, Sri Lanka showed the quality that won it the Asia Cup earlier this year, winning by nine wickets in Hobart.
Ireland won the toss and elected to bat, backing its top order that proved so destructive against the West Indies, but against Sri Lanka’s talented attack, it proved to be a different story.
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Just four batters reached double figures as Sri Lanka’s star spin duo Maheesh Theekshana (2-19 off four overs) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2-25 off four) played key roles in restricting Ireland to 8-128 off its 20 overs.
Sri Lanka would’ve been nervous about a larger run chase with first-choice opener Pathum Nissanka sidelined through injury, but any fears of a stutter were allayed with a 63-run stand for the opening wicket between Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya De Silva.
Mendis has been reformed as an opener in the T20 format and continued his fine form with an unbeaten 68 off just 43 deliveries, while De Silva and Charith Asalanka added 31 runs apiece.
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Sri Lanka mowed down the Irish total in just 15 overs, leaving it with a healthy net run rate of 2.47.
Its next match will be against Australia in Perth on Tuesday evening, with the reigning champions needing a win to keep its hopes of defending the T20 World Cup alive.
After the first round of matches, Australia is bottom of Group 1 following Saturday’s 89-run hammering by New Zealand which left it with a dismal net run rate of -4.45.
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