Sri Lanka Vs Ireland, ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights: Spinners Help Lankans Secure Comfortable Win

Good Evening to everyone joining us for the Sri Lanka Vs Ireland Group B match-up at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo. The build-up is coming your way, stay tuned.

Day 1 was packed with excitement and shocks as we got very close to seeing at least one upset in the match between Pakistan Vs Netherlands. The Dutch unit would have won the game if Max O'Dowd held onto the catch of Faheem Ashraf, who stole the match later with his fiery knock.

In Mumbai, USA inflicted a top and lower middle-order collapse on the reigning champions India, but the co-hosts stabilized just in time for a 29-run victory.

Want to know more? Here's the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 day 1 wrap.

The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch is a classic subcontinent surface, which favours spin bowlers with its slow and low nature. While it offers early assistance to pacers, it typically flattens for batters before gripping more as the match progresses. The average 1st innings score in T20Is at this venue is around 145-155.

The last time a 200+ total was posted here in a T20I match was 6 years ago in 2018 when Bangladesh smashed 215 against the Lankans.

England are close to beating Nepal to begin their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 opener in style. The Asians still need 39 off 16 and it is very much possible in the modern T20 era. They just need one big over. Follow the match here.

England have saved themselves from major embarrassment as Sam Curran defended 6 runs off the final ball of the match to help his side claim all three points in Wankhede.

Splendid effort from the Nepalese team, they reached very close, gave themselves the chance but ultimately it's their inexperience and England's experience that made the difference.

Ireland have won the toss and they will bowl first in Colombo.

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

Ireland XI: Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Curtis Campher, Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys

Here we go at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and Ireland have gone ahead with an interesting choice to start this match as left-arm off-spinner Matthew Humphreys bowls the first over.

Remember, this track can be very sluggish so Sri Lanka will have to be very cautious.

Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara have had a decent start to the innings so far as they are scoring at a rate of more than 7 per over but Mark Adair has bowled a great 4th over.

Yes the tension and pressure was building up in the 4th over and Mark Adair finally has his man. He dismisses Kamil Mishara, who was surprised by the way the ball came into the bat and ended up miscuing for an easy catch to Barry McCarthy.

It has been very slow from Sri Lanka but that's what this pitch does as well. Good bowling effort from the Irish team thus far but they need another wicket here.

Just as we were talking about the wicket, it arrived in the form of Pathum Nissanka, who goes out in disappointment as he wanted to slog George Dockrell away for a six but ends up finding the safe hands of Ireland skipper Paul Stirling.

We have crossed the 13-over mark and Sri Lanka haven't been able even touch triple figures as they lose the wicket of Kushal Mendis for 29 off 26 with an lbw by Gareth Delany.

Ireland bowlers continue to trouble Sri Lankan batters and the latter find things difficult to get going in the middle overs. Gareth Delaney and Matthew Humphreys have tightened their grip on the Sri Lankan batters and that results in the big wicket of Dunith Wellalage. Tried to take on the spinners but gets holed out in the deep. Sri Lanka needs a strong finish to get to a competitive score here.

Some sloppy fielding from Ireland and Sri Lanka get two big overs and a jailbreak. Two catches dropped and both Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis make the most of it. Finally they break the shackles of the middle overs and get the ball over the boundaries to give their innings some momentum. Ireland will not want to lose their hold on the game here.

Right then, Sri Lanka have been restricted to a par total of 163 after a strong finish from Kamindu Mendis, who scored 44 off 19. Decent outing from the Irish bowlers as well.

The Irish innings is underway in Colombo as skipper Paul Stirling and Ross Adair open the proceedings. Let's see when Sri Lanka get the first breakthrough.

Sri Lanka have picked the wicket of skipper Paul Stirling as Maheesh Theekshana caught him in his trap with a clean bowled for just 6 off 13.

Ross Adair hsa got a good start in contrary to his skipper's and the former has to stay long in the crease for Ireland to have a real chance at chasing the target.

Ross Adair has departed after a quick fire knock of 34 off 23. He smacked 5 fours and a six during his innings.

Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker have picked up from Ross Adair left off. The duo are having an imperative partnership at the moment but Ireland will need 10 runs per over from now.

Ireland are on a hurry now and that has proved to be expensive as they have lost a couple of wickets and now have been reduced to 5 wickets.

Ireland lose another and the match keeps drifting away from them. It is Curtis Campher, who departs this time trying to land some big shots off the bowling off Wanindu Hasaranga. Tossed up delivery on off, Campher goes for it and slices and the long-off fielder settles to take an easy catch. Ireland still need 36 runs in 12 balls.

Sri Lanka commence their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a comfortable win against Ireland at home. After put in to bat, for a long time, Sri Lanka looked troubled with the bat and were strangled by the Ireland spinners. Kusal and Kamindu Mendis helped them break through and they didn't let the momentum slip since them. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga trapped the Ireland batters in their spin web and both scalped three wickets each to restrict them for 143, helping Sri Lanka secure a 20-run win.