‌AI Simulation, SL vs ENG | Stirling and Tector steer Ireland to famous upset over World Cup hosts in Colombo

Pitch and Weather

Colombo produced a dry and slow pitch with clear assistance for spin through the middle overs. The new ball came nicely onto the bat, but timing became difficult as the surface started to grip. Temperatures stayed close to 29 degrees celsius with high humidity, while light cloud cover prevented any major delays during the evening.

Toss

Ireland won the toss and chose to bowl first, following the usual trend at the venue where captains prefer to assess the surface early and chase under lights.

Lineups

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga

Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys

Match Report

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka made a steady start through Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara, who focused on placement rather than power in the opening powerplay. Nissanka looked comfortable against the pace bowlers and found regular singles through the off side, while Mishara played a supporting role and punished anything short. The pair added a controlled opening stand before Mishara misjudged a slower ball from Barry McCarthy and was caught inside the ring.

Kusal Mendis joined Nissanka and briefly lifted the tempo with a couple of clean boundaries over cover, but Ireland’s spinners quickly slowed the innings. Matthew Humphreys and George Dockrell bowled tight lines and forced Sri Lanka’s batters to take risks to keep the run rate moving. Nissanka brought up a well-paced forty before being dismissed attempting to clear long-on, and Mendis followed soon after while trying to break the squeeze.

Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka tried to rebuild, but the surface made free scoring difficult. Boundaries were rare through the middle overs and Sri Lanka relied heavily on strike rotation. A short late burst from Shanaka and a few quick runs from Hasaranga helped push the total to 162 for 7, a competitive score but one that still felt slightly below par given the decent start.

Ireland’s chase began in controlled fashion as Paul Stirling set the tempo from the first over. Ross Adair fell early while trying to force the pace, but Stirling and Harry Tector calmly rebuilt the innings. Stirling focused on working the spinners into gaps, while Tector waited for loose deliveries and kept the required run rate under control.

Wanindu Hasaranga briefly turned the game in Sri Lanka’s favour with a sharp double strike, removing both Stirling and Tector just as the partnership was beginning to take control. With the pressure back on, Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher showed good composure. They avoided risky shots, ran hard between the wickets and targeted the shorter boundary when opportunities appeared.

Campher played a key role late in the innings, picking up two boundaries off pace to ease the equation. Despite a couple of tight overs from Matheesha Pathirana at the death, Ireland remained ahead of the required rate and Gareth Delany finished the chase with a single through midwicket with three balls remaining.

Ireland closed on 164 for 6 to seal a calm four-wicket victory and extend their recent run of strong results.

Player of the Match

Paul Stirling was named Player of the Match for his controlled opening knock, which set the platform for Ireland’s successful chase.