8.2 pinged to Stirling at extra cover, and Nissanka perishes! There had been a slow-down and SL were beginning to feel the pinch of the scoring rate. Nissanka, to that end, tries to power this length ball over extra cover but does not get under it fully. Does not keep it down either and he arrows it towards Stirling, who takes a smart chance to his left. Nissanka throws his head back in disappointment, and Ireland turning the screw now! 62/2

3.6 does him all ends up, and Mishara has to walk back! This is a beautifully-disguised slower ball. Almost at 111kph, and Mishara has no clue about it. Hangs his bat out to this back of a length ball outside off and offers the tamest of chips to McCarthy at mid off. SL lose their first! 28/1

10.1 oh dear - what kind of a shot was that?! Lots of time to now reflect for Rathnayake, though! Darted in on a back of a length on middle stump. Rathnayake, for some reason, thinks the cute upper-cut dink over the keeper is on. No room whatsoever. No pace either, and Rathnayake ends up on the deck without making contact, with the ball rattling into the stumps. SL in a proper spot of bother now! 68/3

13.5 skied a mile up, and that will be that for Wellalage! Invitation thrown out wide outside off and Wellalage thinks this is in his arc. But it is not. A bit too wide to drag it to cow corner and Wellalage only gets under it. Dockrell settles under it in the wide long on region and does the rest. SL's innings still in the quicksand! 86/4

18.4 clinked to mid off, and Kamindu's fun is over! And stop the press too because Ireland have actually held on to a chance. Zipped in very full on leg. Kamindu backs away but stil cannot get under it enough. Off the toe-end and Dockrell makes no mistake. A much-needed cameo this from an SL POV, but someone else will have to apply the finishing touches now! 153/5

18.5 another miscue and Ireland have caught two in two, and no, this is not a drill! Well, stop all that excitement because this could yet be a No ball. Seems like a thigh-high full toss on off. Shanaka swings at it wildly and skews it off the leading edge. Short third takes it perilously close to the ground, despite having so much air time to get into position, but that could still be a moot point because a third umpire check for a No ball is ongoing. Ball Tracking comes up and reckons the ball was 16cm below the waist. Shanaka has to go, and McCarthy suddenly on a hat-trick! 153/6

3.2 through him this time, and Theekshana has completely outwitted Stirling here! Another zippy yorker on middle and Stirling pre-meditates his charge. Thinks he can take this on the full but all he does by advancing is take time away. Cannot bring his bat down and the ball thunders into middle. Theekshana does his usual celebration, and SL have a wicket for their early toil! 24/1

7.6 one leg is enough for Hasaranga, it seems! Excellently-disguised googly that lands on a fullish length just outside off. Ross does not pick it and still he tries to tonk this into tomorrow. Misses the ball completely and hears the death rattle soon after. Hasaranga is definitely not a hundred percent here but it does not seem to matter! 56/2

15.1 and Hasaranga comes up trump - would you believe it! Well, you better do because this wounded like is doing serious damage to Ireland. Floated up on a length on leg. Tector has a mow at it but the lack of room means he drags it straight down deep mid wicket's throat. Ireland wobbling now! 113/4

14.2 this goes way up, and snared at long on! Big wicket for the hosts, and the crowd comes to life too! Back of a length on middle and off, and this sticks in the surface. Straightens as well and Tucker, trying to pull, slices it terribly. Mishara, stationed well inside the long on fence, makes no mistake and Ireland have left the door ajar for SL! 105/3

17.4 holes out to long off, and Hasaranga is doing his thing again! This is brave bowling. Given a bit of air outside off, enticing the big shot. Campher, with the asking rate rising, has no option but to go for it. Steps down but cuts across it way too much. Shanaka settles under it a few yards inside the fence, and sends Campher back to the shed! 126/7

16.3 stumped by an absolute mile, and this Irish chase is threatening to flag now! Off-spinner on a length just outside leg, and this dips on the batter late. By then, Calitz is half-way down and still not to the pitch of the ball. Swings agriculturally and misses, with Mendis doing the rest. Theekshana has two, and SL tighten their grip on this contest! 120/5

16.4 gone first ball, and Theekshana has two in two! Seems like a carrom ball on a back of a length on off. Delany does not read it and is turned inside out. Gets into an awkward position and dangles his bat out in the end, with the ball looping off the leading edge and neestling into Chameera's palms at short third! 120/6

19.3 straight to sweeper cover, and SL are almost there now! Off-pace on a back of a length outside off. Dares Dockrell to generate all the pace and the batter ends up second-best. A slap straight to Kamindu, and the crowd in the stands can breathe a sigh of relief! 143/9

18.6 in the air and pouched again! Everything working for SL now. Off-pace and barely anything to work with, despite this being short and wide. Mark tries to power it downtown but only spoons it into the wide long off region. Shanaka scurries to his left and then gobbles it up. Ireland eight down and on the brink! 137/8

19.5 off stump knocked back, and Pathirana seals the deal for Sri Lanka on a nervy opening night! Zinged in on a length on off. A bit of tail back in and a bit of extra skid. Too hot to handle for Humphreys and his bat is only half-way down as the ball crashes into off stump. Smiles in the stands, and smiles in the SL camp, but they will know that they had to work extremely hard for this! 143/10