Sri Lanka vs Ireland, 6th Match, Group B, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

So that ends the triple-header for the day. A long day and we will be up for another long day tomorrow. Do join us then. And time to bounce off into the night. Bye bye for now.

Dasun Shanaka | Sri Lanka captain: "Of course a well-earned victory, I must say. Really happy about the all-round performance tonight. Yeah, the start was a bit [of a] struggle. Then, of course, Kusal Mendis held until the end and then Kamindu's cameo, it was the turn [turning point] of the game. So, yeah, he batted like a different wicket. So, really happy of his comeback as well. Expect a lot from him in the coming games. (on the pitch) Yeah, truly, I expect the wicket to be, you know, a bit flatter. So, with the grass left on the wicket. So, yeah, so I initially thought that toss will play a crucial part, but it helped us actually in the second phase. It slowed down a bit. (so many positives for the side) Yeah, the confidence from the bowling unit, it carries from the last game. So, yeah, Wanindu got a, you know, problem with his hamstring. Hopefully it won't be serious and Maheesh Theekshana in that middle overs bowled really well. And yeah, really happy about the bowling as well."

Paul Stirling | Ireland captain: "To be honest, probably halfway through we thought maybe they got 15-20 too many. So look, I think at the very start of the day, we would have been happy chasing 160. That's sort of what the note said on the wicket out here, that 160 was chaseable. So yeah, I think we could find 20 runs pretty much anywhere in the match. (on their batting at the death) Yeah, I think when the match was on the lines, we probably weren't as clinical as we wanted to be. A little bit sloppy in the field, which is disappointing, but plenty of areas that we need to come back with in a couple of days' time against Australia. Yeah, look, I think experience told today. Sri Lankan teams at the end, in both innings, I think that was the difference really. Those 20 runs certainly they defended well at the backend. We had plenty of wickets in hand. We thought we were in good positions all the way through and then they really upped the ante and put that squeeze on. (what was the decisive moment?) Oh, a bit of everything, to be honest. I think you could sit back and reflect and pick those 20 runs out of anywhere. But at the end of the day, it felt like they were 20 runs better than us throughout the whole match. So yeah, plenty for us to work on and come back stronger. (is spin a challenge?) I think spin is going to be a challenge in this competition. Certainly it wasn't coming on to the bat as much as we thought it could have been. So looks like spin is going to be dominating parts and phases of this game."

First win for a side batting first at Colombo RPS in the last nine T20 Internationals at the venue.

Worst collapse from 100+ for two wkts down (T20 WC)
29/8 (162/2-191) Aus vs Pak Gros Islet 2010
38/8 (105/2-143) Ire vs SL Colombo RPS 2026*
49/8 (126/2-175) Aus vs Pak Mirpur 2014

Kamindu Mendis | Player of the Match: "Actually, when I got to middle, I just wanted to keep my momentum, and wanted to score runs in the middle, and put a partnership with Kusal Mendis. (on Ireland) Actually they played well till 15th-16th over. Credit goes to our bowlers as well. Maheesh, Wanindu did really well and Dushmantha Chameera, so credit goes to them as well. They bowled really well and keep them under 150. (on the pitch) We thought the same thing, we thought that will be a 170-plus wicket. But when playing for the spinners we feel like 160 or something. So we just wanted to put over 160 on board and we just defended it. (how important was it to win today?) It was a good game, a good start for the tournament. I think boys did really well. Kusal (Mendis) played really well and at the moment, boys did really well and they are on a good mindset."

22:50 Local Time, 17:20 GMT, 22:50 IST: Ireland lose their way to end up with a defeat. At 105/2, Ireland were looking good for the final assault. But the wickets of Tucker and Tector totally turned things around. They were the set batters and the game slipped away from Ireland after that. In the end they lose by 20, when one expected them to get much closer, if not win. Earlier, Stirling fell for a cheap score but the partnership between Tucker and Tector gave Ireland hope. Sri Lanka through their catching and fielding were a marked contrast to Ireland who were woeful. Hasaranga put in a "heroic effort" in the words of my esteemed colleague, Sagar Chawla as he battled hamstring issues to complete his 4 overs, taking 3 crucial wickets. He was not able to complete his action and didn't put much behind the ball, still he gave it his all for his team. Theekshana too came good with 3 wickets with the others supporting. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff...

Pathirana to Humphreys, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Game done now.

Pathirana to Dockrell, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Most overs of spin in a T20 World Cup match
26.0 Aus vs Pak Colombo RPS 2012
25.4 Ind vs WI Mirpur 2014
25.0 Pak vs WI Mirpur 2014
25.0 SL vs Ire Colombo RPS 2026*