Sri Lanka launched their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a win against Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Ireland won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat. The hosts managed 163 for 6 from their 20 overs. Ireland, chasing 164, fell short and got bowled out for 143. Sri Lanka walked away with a 20-run win to start their tournament on a high.
To be honest, Sri Lanka’s batting wasn’t exactly smooth. After being sent into bat, they started slow. Pathum Nissanka made 24 from 23 balls, and his opening partner Kamil Mishara chipped in with 14 off 11. Kusal Mendis, though, anchored the innings with a steady unbeaten 56. Then Kamindu Mendis showed up near the end and smashed 44 off just 19 balls—he really turned up the heat, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes. That late burst pushed Sri Lanka up to 163. Ireland’s bowlers did their bit, too—Barry McCarthy and George Dockrell picked up two wickets each, with Mark Adair and Gareth Delany grabbing one apiece.
Ireland’s chase never really got going. They lost early wickets, and while Ross Adair’s 34 and Harry Tector’s 40 gave them some hope, no one else stuck around long enough to worry Sri Lanka. In the end, Ireland were all out for 143, just one ball shy of their 20 overs. Sri Lanka’s spinners did the real damage—Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga both took three wickets, and Matheesha Pathirana chipped in with two more.
In this clash, Lankan spinner Hasaranga set a major record during the match. With his second wicket, he became the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup, equaling Shahid Afridi ‘s record. Afridi and Hasaranga have taken 39 wickets each in the T20 World Cup. Ireland just couldn’t handle the pressure, and Sri Lanka started their World Cup journey with a concrete win.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI) – Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana.
Ireland (Playing XI) – Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy and Matthew Humphreys.
