Sri Lanka vs Ireland, 8th Match, T20 WC 2021
Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera(w), Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Charith Asalanka
Ireland Squad: Paul Stirling, Kevin O Brien, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Neil Rock(w), Simi Singh, Mark Adair, Benjamin White, Joshua Little, George Dockrell, Craig Young, Andy McBrine, Lorcan Tucker
Pitch report: It looks a beautiful surface. Sri Lanka can be short and quick on this track. A total of 160-plus is chaseable with the dew playing a part.
Sri Lanka are in good touch and would want to cruise through today but Ireland pose a tough competition for sure. The Irish team also are a team to look out for as they do punch above their weight in big tourneys like these.
Balbirnie | Ireland captain: We are going to bowl first, it’s our first night game. Hopefully we can make use of the dew factor. We need to be a bit smart, doesn’t matter if we bat or bowl first. Young comes in.
Shanaka | Sri Lanka captain:Looks a really good wicket, I think our batters will score big. We have come with a plan for this game. Our confidence level is high after winning the last game. We are playing the same side.
Ireland (Playing XI): Paul Stirling, Kevin O Brien, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Gareth Delany, Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, Neil Rock(w), Simi Singh, Mark Adair, Joshua Little, Craig Young
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera(w), Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara
Joshua Little on his terrific performance(4/23): “I thought it’s going to skid on, but it didn’t. Hasaranga played well (after Sri Lanka lost three wickets). Got a few balls to shape back in, but there wasn’t any help apart from that.
I try to swing every ball, but if it can’t you just need to adapt. Need to bowl scramble seam, seam up and other variations here. We’ll try to give it our best shot and use all the power we have.”
Nissanka, Hasaranga Rebuild
Wanindu Hasaranga was promoted up the order to accelerate the scoring in the Powerplay and the move worked well. The last two overs of the fielding restrictions fetched Sri Lanka 30 runs, with Hasaranga smacking Simi Singh for four consecutive boundaries off the last four balls.
Nissanka and Hasaranga kept the scoreboard ticking, bringing up their 50-run partnership in just 37 balls.
Revived from the drinks break, the two batters continued to take the attack to the Irish bowlers. Hasaranga, in particular, was brutal, putting away anything that was near in his arc. The two batters continued their onslaught and got to their maiden T20I fifties.
Shanaka puts the finishing touches
A flurry in the end from Shanaka, who scored an unbeaten 21 off just 11, set a target of 172 for Ireland to chase down. At the moment of writing this article, Sri Lanka are cruising along and need just one wicket to win the match.
Video of 100 m Six by Sri Lanka Captain : Biggest six of T20 WC
— avishkar govardhane (@avishkargovardh) October 20, 2021
via @t20worldcup https://t.co/B9h6uRkow1
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