Sri Lanka vs Ireland, Match 6 Match Summary

What's up on Monday? 2 days done, 6 matches up. We could have had as many as 6 upsets. That's right. Nearly every match could have had a different script. Sunday started off with New Zealand beating Afghanistan by 5 wickets, chasing down 183, followed by the England-Nepal clash where the Nepalese nearly pulled off a stunning chase of 185, before Ireland messed up in their clash with the Lankans. But a pattern seems to be emerging - the 'minnows' or the lower-ranked teams seem to be struggling to wrap up games and that's where they are getting hurt. From that point of view, Monday, 9th February, 2026 does not have the firepower of teams playing as compared to the weekend. It is still a triple-header day, with newcomers Italy meeting Scotland at 5.30 am GMT at the Eden Gardens, followed by the Oman-Zimbabwe clash at 9.30 am GMT in Colombo (at a different venue, SSC) and then finally, rounding off with South Africa taking on Canada at 1.30 pm GMT in Ahmedabad. There might not be players with big names but with how the World Cup has started off so far, don't be surprised if we see something new in the making. The timings mentioned are the ones when the first ball will be bowled but our buildup will begin well in advance. So do tune in early. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Learn from mistakes - So Sri Lanka get away with a win and have 3 days to analyze Wanindu Hasaranga's injury. They play Oman next, on Thursday, 12th February, 2026 in Pallekele, but if truth be told, they might rest him for that clash to make him fit and available for the match against Australia on 16th February, 2026. As far as Ireland are concerned, they meet Australia next, on Wednesday, 11th February, 2026. That match is at this same venue, so they will certainly have a better knowledge of the conditions as compared to the Aussies. Mind you, Australia's only warm-up game was washed out in Colombo. The Irish will hope to do better in that match and more importantly, finish the job.

An all-round performance - That is what DASUN SHANAKA, the victorious skipper of Sri Lanka, feels it was, from the Lankan side in this match, citing that he is really happy. Adds that the hosts didn't start off well with the bat but Kusal Mendis held up one end well and the cameo from Kamindu Mendis was like he was batting on a different wicket. Feels that he initially thought the wicket would be a bit flatter but it did help them as well as it slowed down in the second innings. Mentions that the confidence in the bowling unit carries on from the previous match and hopes that Wanindu Hasaranga's hamstring is fine.

Gave away 15-20 too many - That's what the captain of Ireland, PAUL STIRLING, replies, on being asked to sum up the match. Adds that at the start of the day, Ireland would have been happy to chase down somewhere around 160. He adds that the momentum shift at the back end of the first innings hurt his side badly. On being asked as to where did the game change, Paul replies that when the match was on the line, his side wasn't as clinical as it wanted to be. But stresses that they have got a couple of days to reflect and come back stronger and sharper. Believes that the Irish had the Lankan team on the mat in both innings but those 20 runs in the end was the key. On being further asked as to what hurt Ireland more - the runs leaked in the last 4 overs with the ball or the dropped catches, PS feels that it was a bit of everything. Explains that when you will sit back and analyze, you will end up picking those 20 runs from anywhere. Admits that his side has got plenty of things to work on. On his assessment of his batters against spin in this match, Paul Stirling feels that spin is going to be a challenge in this competition. Details that the ball was not coming onto the bat and it looks like spin will play a big role in the games to come.

Player Of The Match -  For his quickfire 44 (19), Sri Lanka's KAMINDU MENDIS has been adjudged the Player Of The Match. Kamindu says that when he came out to bat, he wanted to keep the momentum up and build a good partnership with Kusal Mendis. Adds that Ireland played well till the 15-16th over but the bowlers came back strongly, used the change of pace and kept them under 150. Kamindu Mendis feels that it was a 170-wicket but after playing the spinners for a while, adds that he and Kusal knew that 160 could be a defendable total. Ends by saying that the spirits are good in the camp and they are looking forward to the rest of the tournament.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Lucky escape or a champion display? Depends on how you see a glass with water filled upto half level. Half full, or half empty? Clearly, this was not the best match for the Lankans by any means but the key thing was they found a way to fight. For some reason, they stopped showing intent with the bat post the 6th over but then played tremendously in the last 4 overs. With the ball, they were searching for that third breakthrough and once they got it, they just ran through the opposition. Sure, they can consider themselves lucky that Ireland dropped so many catches, but all these are a part and parcel of the game. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

Positives for Ireland - They did well for nearly 70 percent of both innings on an average. The bowlers set things up nicely, and then, the batters laid the platform decently. George Dockrell was outstanding, with bowling figures of 2/17 in 4 overs, while with the bat, Ross Adair, Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector impressed everyone with their running. However, Ireland's inability to close things out in both innings hurt them. But they will take confidence from this display for the matches to come.

A game of missed opportunities - Ireland had their chances. And a lot of them. First, with the ball. They had the Lankans on the mat at 104/4 after 16 overs. Suddenly, catches started getting dropped left, right and centre. Then, with the bat, they had created a wonderful platform - 105/2, needing 59 runs from 35 balls. But then, they just started losing wickets left, right and centre.

A win is a win - That's what the Lankans would say. This is a World Cup and every opposition can be dangerous. They will introspect of course, be it their shoddy batting or indisciplined bowling in the first half of both innings. However, the Lankans will revel on the fact that with their backs against the wall, they found heroes across both innings - the two Mendises with the bat and Wanindu Hasaranga with one leg. Of course, Theekshana bowled well too.

Nervy victory! Relief for Sri Lanka. They are not looking overly pleased or even happy and in fact, this seems like a normal day at work where things could have gone really out of hand. With due respect to Ireland, they played out of their skins with both bat and ball but a critic will feel that they have let things slip by here.

OUT! BOWLED! Bull's eye from Pathirana. He keeps it straight, on a length, outside off, getting it to angle in. Humphreys swings hard but misses. The ball cannons into the off stump and SRI LANKA WIN BY 20 RUNS!

A slower ball, on a length, outside off, Matthew Humphreys swings hard and gets a bottom edge. It goes on the bounce to the keeper.

Number 11 does come out to bat then. Matthew Humphreys would not have expected that in the 15th over.

OUT! CAUGHT! Timed well by George Dockrell but just not well enough. Matheesha Pathirana takes pace off and bowls it wide outside off. Dockrell hangs deep in the crease and reaches out to slash it over cover-point. Dockrell ends up hitting it straight down the throat of Kamindu Mendis at sweeper cover and he makes no mistake. Ireland are now 9 down for 143.

FOUR! Oh, that's gone past everyone. Full length and around off, Dockrell hits it straight back. The fielder at mid off is a bit sluggish and the ball goes past him and again, it is Kamil Mishara at long on who runs to his left. He puts in the dive but this time, the ball wins the race.

A yorker, aimed in at the toes but angling down leg. Dockrell backs away and jams it out through in front of square leg for a couple of runs.

The final over then. Ireland need 27 runs. By the way, the wicket of Curtis Campher picked up by Wanindu Hasaranga was his 40th in T20 World Cups, second only to Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, who has scalped 50. Barry McCarthy walks in next, at number 10, replacing Mark Adair. Matheesha Pathirana will close things out. 2-0-20-0 so far.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one falls. Slower ball, back of a length, outside off. Adair looked to hammer it over cover but mistimed it totally. Dasun Shanaka got across to his left from long off and got to the ball pretty easily. Adair departs for 10 (6) and from 105/2, Ireland are now 137/8! Equation - 27 runs, 6 balls.

FOUR! That's nicely done! A full toss, outside off, Mark Adair gets across and stylishly laps it over short fine leg for a boundary. 27 more needed from 7 balls.

Full and straight, Adair hammers it straight back. The bowler leaps to his right and gets a hand to it, deflecting the ball towards mid on. However, by the time he can go back to collect the ball, the batters return for the second.

Gets it over the infield, does Mark Adair. A bit slower and back of a length, Adair forces the lofted shot over covers and picks up a couple of runs.

In the air but will fall safely. On a hard length, angled in from around off and middle. Dockrell stays leg side of the ball and shanks the lofted shot over mid off for a single. 35 needed off 10 balls.

Slower one, pitched up in the channel around off. George Dockrell stays put and swipes across the line but is well beaten.

Into the final 2 overs of the innings. Dushmantha Chameera is back on. 2-0-16-0 so far.

Dropped short, outside off, Adair rocks back and slaps it wide of long off, to his left, for a couple. A wicket and 7 runs from the over, Wanindu Hasaranga finishes with bowling figures of 4-0-25-3!

Landed around middle and leg, Mark Adair goes back to punch but gets a bottom edge, which just goes past the leg stump, towards short fine leg!

Very pear-shaped has this innings gone now. With the net run rate in question, Ireland should aim to play out 20 overs and get as close to 150 as possible, to reduce the defeat margin. Mark Adair walks in next, at number 9, replacing Curtis Campher.

OUT! CAUGHT! And the one-legged warrior gets his third! Tossed up, outside off, Curtis Campher comes down the track and looks to go over the top. Is barely to the pitch of the ball and only hits it straight to long off, where Dasun Shanaka makes no mistake. Campher departs for 13 (11) and from 105/2, Ireland are now 126/7! Equation - 38 runs, 14 balls.

Nicely fielded again. Tossed up outside off, it is the leg break. Curtis Campher gets across, sits down and slogs it against the turn. The square boundary on the leg side is a big one and he gets it to the right of deep mid-wicket. Pavan Rathnayake smartly runs around and palms the ball in. Just another brace.