SL vs IRE | Kamindu heroics punish sloppy Ireland as hobbling Hasaranga leads Lanka to victory in opener

Gantavya Adukia

ByGantavya Adukia,SportsCafe Editor

13

Sri Lanka recovered well from being put in an Irish spin chokehold at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday to secure a 20-run win in their T20 World Cup opener. Kamindu Mendis'19-ball 44 proved pivotal in taking the hosts to 163, before Wanindu Hasaranga scalped three while battling hamstring troubles.

ā€Œā€ŒAsked to bat first, Sri Lanka declared their intentions early with Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara stroking a boundary each off Mark Adair's first over, the second of the innings, to take 13 off it. The latter doubled his tally in the next over against Barry McCarthy and survived a drop three deliveries later, before an exceptional Adair slower one brought an end to his eventful stay at the crease. Nevertheless, Nissanka kept up momentum with the first maximum off the innings in the penultimate over of the powerplay and Kusal Mendis brought the field restrictions to a resounding end with three boundaries off McCarthy to have the Lankans well placed at 50/1. The Irish were quick to resort to spin as soon as the field spread, and two quiet overs culminated in NissankaĀ spooning George Dockrell straight to extra cover to depart for a near run-a-ball 24. The leggie added a second in his next over courtesy of an absurd attempt by Pavan Rathnayake to ramp a length ball, only for his stumps to be rattled emphatically. The Irish squeeze continued as George Delany combined brilliantly with Dockrell, the finger spinner opening hisĀ account by dispatching the promoted Dunith Wellalage in the 14th over. The hosts managed a paltry 45 runs in the nine overs succeeding the powerplay, with no boundaries to show for it, until Kamindu Mendis finally broke the shackles with a reverse sweep while Kusal Mendis teetered along at the other end. The latter attempted to finally switch gears in the 17th over by taking on Matthew HumphreysĀ andĀ could only sky his shot, butĀ Curtis CampherĀ handed him a lifeline as he misjudged the high ball. Two balls later, Mendis offered another chance, with McCarthy the guilt party this time.Ā Dockrell made it three missed attempts for the over the very next delivery as a Kamindu flatbat burst through his hands to atravel for six, the batter capitalizing with two more boundaries to make it 21 of the over and change the complexion of the game. The youngster struckĀ four offĀ a waist-high McCarthy no-ball to continue his surge, followed by a stonking maximum on the free-hit in an extras-laden over, albeit with two scalps including Kamindu's after a 19-ball 44. Kusal brought up his half-century in the final over with his fifth boundary as the Lions ended on 163/6.

In response, Ross Adair came out of the gates flying as heĀ smashed a boundary on the final delivery of each of the first three overs to make up for the sturggling Paul Stirling at the other end. The Irish skipper's battle did not last long though as he was outdone by a 111ks yorker from Maheesh Theekshana, bringing Harry Tector to the crease. Nevertheless, Adair made sure the team made the most of the powerplay with a maximumĀ and two boundaries in the remaining two overs, taking the score to 45/1. Like their rivals, the Irish slowed down once the field spread and more spin came on. They seemed to have received a bonus when Wanindu Hasaranga hurt his hamstring early into his first over, but theĀ hobbling veteran managed to get Adair for a 23-ball 34 all the same with a googly to end his effort. Lorcan Tucker stuck in thereafter alongsie Tector to induce some stability into the chase, the occassional boundary making sure they stayed in touch with the required rate. Even so, the ask had risen to 10 when Wellalage came on to bowl the 15th, and with the second delivery had Tucker hole out for 21 to end the 49-run stand.Ā The Irish resistance crumbled therafter as Hasaranga returned to scalp Tector and Campher in successive overs, either side of Theekshana removing Ben Calitz and Delaney on successive deliveries. The LionsĀ ended up bowling out the Irish for 143 with two balls to spare to mark a successful start to their World Cup campaign on home soil.

Gone

Magician!

Spinners strike!

Poor batting!

No chances !

Thrilling matches only!

Yeah!

Thriller!

Oh!

Big wicket!

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