11:05pm That will be all from us for tonight. We will be back again tomorrow with another triple scoop of T20 World Cup action. Until then, from all of us here at ESPNcricinfo, it is goodbye!
Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka captain: Well-earned victory. Very happy about the overall performance. The start was a bit of a struggle but Kusal held it in the end, with Kamindu's cameo the turning point. He batted like he was on a different wicket. Really happy with his comeback and expect a lot from him in the coming games. I expected the wicket to be flatter with the grass left on the wicket. Initially thought toss will play a crucial part but it helped us in the second phase - it slowed down a bit. The confidence from the bowling unit, it carries from the last game. Wanindu got a problem with his hamstring - hopefully it will not be serious. Maheesh bowled well in the middle overs.
Paul Stirling, Ireland captain: (On the score) To be honest, felt they got 15-20 too many. At the start of the day, we would have been happy chasing it. But you could find 20 runs almost anywhere in the match. When the match was on the line, we were not as clinical. A bit sloppy in the field. Experience told today. At the end, it was the difference (between us and them). They defended well at the back end. They upped the ante and put the squeeze on. (On if the 19th over or the dropped catches were more pivotal) A bit of everything. It felt like they were 20 runs better than us throughout the whole match. Spin is going to be a challenge in the competition. Was not coming on as well as we thought it would.
Kamindu Mendis, Player of the Match: When I went to the middle, wanted to keep my momentum and wanted to score runs and put on a partnership with Kusal Mendis. (On if they were worried during the chase) They played well till 15-16th over. Credit goes to our bowlers. Maheesh and Chameera bowled well. We thought it would be a 170-plus wicket but when playing the spinners, it felt like a 160 or something (pitch). We just wanted to put 160 on the board and we just defended it. It was a good game, good start to the tournament. Boys did well, Kusal did well.
10:49pm A relatively comfortable win in the end, but that was definitely not the case when six overs of the chase were remaining. At that point, though, Ireland began losing their way and they just could not recovering, with SL also tightening the screws. Tector and Tucker kept Ireland afloat but neither was able to bat through. Ross Adair also fell after a start and Ireland's failure to have a set batter at the death cost them.
As for the hosts, well, they had to rely on their spinners, which always felt like the case. Theekshana was brilliant and Hasaranga, battling what looked like a hamstring injury, fought through the pain and produced one of his trademark wicket-taking displays. Both kept chipping away and that constant wicket-taking meant SL had too much for Ireland in the end.
MJ Humphreys b Pathirana 0 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
shah: "Are the boundaries to big to clear why every Irish batter are unable to clear fence and holing out?" -- It is a big ground, and a slow surface.
GH Dockrell c PHKD Mendis b Pathirana 9 (16m 7b 1x4 0x6) SR: 128.57
21 off 4. Ireland still alive. Barely.
suntee: "to the real questions - hasaranga with the curls or hasaranga with the fade? who would you choose?" -- Is Hasaranga on one leg an option?
Final over coming up. Pathirana to bowl. For the record, Ireland need 27
Shadow-Shell: "The way the tournament is going, will we even see a 200 total. If so, who do you reckon will score it first" -- Would not bet against SA tomorrow.
END OF OVER:19 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | IRE: 137/8 (27 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.21, RRR: 27.00)
- George Dockrell3 (4b)
- Dushmantha Chameera3-0-25-1
- Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-25-3
MR Adair c Shanaka b Chameera 10 (7m 6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 166.66
36 off 12, and this is SL's game to lose now. Chameera to bowl
END OF OVER:18 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | IRE: 128/7 (36 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.11, RRR: 18.00)
- Mark Adair2 (2b)
- George Dockrell2 (2b)
- Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-25-3
- Maheesh Theekshana4-0-23-3
Mark Adair to try his luck with the bat. He can hit it long too
C Campher c Shanaka b Hasaranga 13 (17m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 118.18
Santhosh: "Last 2 days of cricket has been absolutely top notch and a great watch. Hoping for more of the same in the next month."
Nitol: "There's a clear pattern emerging: weaker teams tend to lose their composure right after the 14th over break. Yesterday Scotland lost Berrington and Bruce, today Nepal followed with wickets in the 15th and 16th overs, and now Ireland have lost Tucker and Tector. It shows how crucial it is to stay calm and disciplined in the latter stages of the game." -- This game is still not lost yet, but it is a lot tougher than it was fifteen minutes ago. 43 off 18. Hasaranga to bowl out. Still on one leg
END OF OVER:17 | 4 Runs 2 Wkts | IRE: 121/6 (43 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.11, RRR: 14.33)
- Curtis Campher9 (8b)
- George Dockrell1 (1b)
- Maheesh Theekshana4-0-23-3
- Wanindu Hasaranga3-0-18-2
Well, here is Dockrell now
Happy : "These sorts of the total usually tend to play more thrillers more then 250 scores"
GJ Delany c Chameera b Theekshana 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Delany joins Campher. Still no Dockrell, which is a bit of a surprise
BF Calitz st †BKG Mendis b Theekshana 4 (5m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100
