COLOMBO: Co-hosts Sri Lanka began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a positive note, securing a 20-run victory over Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 164, Ireland faltered under pressure and were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
Ireland’s chase got a shaky start as Maheesh Theekshana struck early, removing captain Paul Stirling for six off 13 balls, including one four, with the second delivery of the third over.
Ross Adair and Harry Tector then steadied the innings, putting on a crucial partnership that carried Ireland past the 50-run mark. The stand was broken by Wanindu Hasaranga, who dismissed Adair for 34 off 23 balls, an innings featuring five fours and a six, leaving Ireland at 56 for 2 in the eighth over.
Tector and Lorcan Tucker tried to rebuild, adding a valuable 50-run partnership to take the score beyond 100. Dunith Wellalage ended the stand by dismissing Tucker for 21 off 18 balls, including two fours, with Ireland at 105 for 3 in the 15th over.
Spinners control proceedings as Sri Lanka seal their #T20WorldCup opener in Colombo 🌀
📝: https://t.co/yVCWv4zFGf pic.twitter.com/EHrhuEskCw
— ICC (@ICC) February 8, 2026
Tector continued to anchor the innings with a fighting 40 off 34 balls, striking one four, before falling to Hasaranga, who claimed his third wicket of the match.
Sri Lanka’s spinners then tightened the noose as Theekshana removed Ben Calitz for four and Gareth Delany for a duck in the same over, reducing Ireland to 120 for 6 in the 17th over.
Curtis Campher was next to depart, falling to Hasaranga, while Dushmantha Chameera dismissed Mark Adair for 10. Matheesha Pathirana wrapped up the innings, removing George Dockrell for nine and Matthew Humphreys for a duck, as Ireland were bowled out short of the target.
Earlier asked to bat first, Sri Lanka started cautiously, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara laying a steady platform in the early overs. Their opening stand of 28 runs ended on the final ball of the fourth over when George Dockrell dismissed Mishara, who made 14 off 11 deliveries, including two boundaries.
Kusal Mendis then joined Nissanka at the crease and the pair rebuilt the innings with a measured 34-run partnership, taking the hosts beyond the 50-run mark. The stand was broken by Mark Adair, who removed Nissanka for 24 off 23 balls, which included a four and a six, leaving Sri Lanka on 62/2 in 8.2 overs.
Kusal Mendis leads the way with the bat for Sri Lanka with a fine half-century in their #T20WorldCup opener against Ireland
It is one of the @mariottbonvoy Milestones of the tournament
📝: https://t.co/yVCWv4z7QH pic.twitter.com/YcIkvmUYZt
— ICC (@ICC) February 8, 2026
Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets at as Dockrell struck again, bowling Pavan Rathnayake for five off nine balls. Gareth Delany added to the pressure by dismissing Dunith Wellalage for 10 from 13 deliveries, reducing the hosts to 86/4 in 13.5 overs.
Kusal Mendis then found valuable support from Kamindu Mendis, and the duo mounted a strong recovery to lift the total past 100. Their vital 50-run partnership saw Kusal register his 18th T20I half-century.
Barry McCarthy eventually broke the stand in the 19th over, dismissing Kamindu after a rapid 44 off 19 balls, which featured four fours and two sixes, with the score at 153/5. McCarthy struck again in the same over to remove captain Dasun Shanaka for a duck.
Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on 56 from 43 balls, hitting five fours, while Wanindu Hasaranga added one run off two balls as Sri Lanka finished on 164/6.
