Hasaranga, Theekshana turn Colombo into Irish nightmare, get SL off to winning start
Sri Lanka spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana spun a web around Ireland as they guided the hosts to a 20-run victory in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo.
Sri Lankan spinners stamped their authority over Ireland in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, February 8, guiding the hosts to a 20-run victory at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Wanindu Hasaranga (3/25) and Maheesh Theekshana (3/23) made full use of the favourable conditions to help Sri Lanka begin their campaign with an emphatic win.
Chasing a target of 164, Ireland were firmly in control of the pursuit, with Harry Tector (40 off 34) and Lorcan Tucker (21 off 18) adding 49 runs for the third wicket off just 38 deliveries. The Irish required 60 runs from the final six overs and backed themselves to complete the chase, with two well-set batters at the crease.
However, Dunith Wellalage broke the momentum by dismissing Tucker, who was caught at long-on. Tector followed in the very next over, holing out to deep mid-wicket against Hasaranga, leaving Ireland in deep trouble. There was no recovery thereafter, as Hasaranga and Theekshana spun a web around the batters, skittling Ireland for 143 in 19.4 overs.
The duo varied their pace remarkably, beating Ireland batters in flight, who found it tough to decipher their variations. Hasaranga and Theekshana's remarkable show has put the rest of the teams on notice as the Lankan lions will use their strength to the full in home conditions, promising a victory run in the campaign ahead.
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka vs Ireland Highlights
Earlier, after being put in to bat, Sri Lanka made a measured start to their innings as Pathum Nissanka (24 off 23) and Kamil Mishara (14 off 11) added 28 runs for the first wicket from 24 balls. Just as Mishara looked set to accelerate, he holed out to mid-off against Mark Adair.
Following the early loss, Nissanka continued to build his innings alongside Kusal Mendis, with the pair putting on 34 runs for the second wicket from 26 balls. However, the opener struggled to shift gears and found it difficult to score freely against the spinners. His scratchy knock eventually came to an end when he hit straight to Paul Stirling off George Dockrell (2/17).
Mendis duo rescue Sri Lanka
The left-arm spinner struck again in his very next over as Pavan Rathnayake (5 off 9) suffered a moment of poor judgement, attempting to ramp Dockrell only to have his stumps disturbed. Gareth Delany (1/24) provided excellent support from the other end, choking the Sri Lankan batters through the middle overs.
Delany later removed Dunith Wellalage (10 off 13), sending him back to the pavilion and leaving the hosts reeling at 86/4 in 13.5 overs. The Sri Lankan batters had few answers to Ireland’s spin duo, who employed flight and guile to bamboozle the hosts and give them a taste of their own medicine.
It ultimately required a herculean effort from the Mendis duo — Kusal (56* off 43) and Kamindu (44 off 19) — who combined to stitch together a crucial 67-run partnership from just 29 balls for the fifth wicket, propelling Sri Lanka’s total beyond the 160-run mark.
Courtesy of that counter-attacking stand, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 163/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Kusal Mendis was later adjudged Player of the Match for his gutsy and composed innings on a tricky surface.
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Sri Lankan spinners stamped their authority over Ireland in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, February 8, guiding the hosts to a 20-run victory at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Wanindu Hasaranga (3/25) and Maheesh Theekshana (3/23) made full use of the favourable conditions to help Sri Lanka begin their campaign with an emphatic win.
Chasing a target of 164, Ireland were firmly in control of the pursuit, with Harry Tector (40 off 34) and Lorcan Tucker (21 off 18) adding 49 runs for the third wicket off just 38 deliveries. The Irish required 60 runs from the final six overs and backed themselves to complete the chase, with two well-set batters at the crease.
However, Dunith Wellalage broke the momentum by dismissing Tucker, who was caught at long-on. Tector followed in the very next over, holing out to deep mid-wicket against Hasaranga, leaving Ireland in deep trouble. There was no recovery thereafter, as Hasaranga and Theekshana spun a web around the batters, skittling Ireland for 143 in 19.4 overs.
The duo varied their pace remarkably, beating Ireland batters in flight, who found it tough to decipher their variations. Hasaranga and Theekshana's remarkable show has put the rest of the teams on notice as the Lankan lions will use their strength to the full in home conditions, promising a victory run in the campaign ahead.
T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka vs Ireland Highlights
Earlier, after being put in to bat, Sri Lanka made a measured start to their innings as Pathum Nissanka (24 off 23) and Kamil Mishara (14 off 11) added 28 runs for the first wicket from 24 balls. Just as Mishara looked set to accelerate, he holed out to mid-off against Mark Adair.
Following the early loss, Nissanka continued to build his innings alongside Kusal Mendis, with the pair putting on 34 runs for the second wicket from 26 balls. However, the opener struggled to shift gears and found it difficult to score freely against the spinners. His scratchy knock eventually came to an end when he hit straight to Paul Stirling off George Dockrell (2/17).
Mendis duo rescue Sri Lanka
The left-arm spinner struck again in his very next over as Pavan Rathnayake (5 off 9) suffered a moment of poor judgement, attempting to ramp Dockrell only to have his stumps disturbed. Gareth Delany (1/24) provided excellent support from the other end, choking the Sri Lankan batters through the middle overs.
Delany later removed Dunith Wellalage (10 off 13), sending him back to the pavilion and leaving the hosts reeling at 86/4 in 13.5 overs. The Sri Lankan batters had few answers to Ireland’s spin duo, who employed flight and guile to bamboozle the hosts and give them a taste of their own medicine.
It ultimately required a herculean effort from the Mendis duo — Kusal (56* off 43) and Kamindu (44 off 19) — who combined to stitch together a crucial 67-run partnership from just 29 balls for the fifth wicket, propelling Sri Lanka’s total beyond the 160-run mark.
Courtesy of that counter-attacking stand, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 163/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Kusal Mendis was later adjudged Player of the Match for his gutsy and composed innings on a tricky surface.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score