T20 World Cup: Tikshantha and Hasaranga Shine as Sri Lanka Beat Ireland in Tournament Opener

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka made a victorious start to their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, defeating Ireland by 20 runs in a Group B clash at home. The win was powered by brilliant all-round performances from Mahesh Tikshantha and Wanindu Hasaranga, who each claimed three wickets, restricting Ireland to 143 after Sri Lanka posted 163.

Ireland Bowled Out for 143
Chasing 164, Ireland’s innings faltered from the outset. Captain Paul Stirling fell for 6 in the fourth over, followed by a brief partnership between Ross Adair (34) and Harry Tector (40). However, Hasaranga bowled out Adair, and wickets kept tumbling, denying Ireland any sustained partnerships. Lorcan Tucker scored 21, and Curtis Campher added 13, but the rest of the lineup struggled. Tikshantha and Hasaranga led the bowling charge, with Mathisha Pathirana also contributing two wickets.

Sri Lanka’s 163 Runs Fueled by Middle-Order Brilliance
Earlier, Sri Lanka recovered from a shaky start, with contributions from Kusal Mendis and Chamindu Mendis forming the backbone of their innings. Kusal remained unbeaten on 56 off 43 balls, hitting five boundaries, while Chamindu scored 44 runs off 19 balls. The duo shared a 67-run partnership for the fifth wicket, rescuing the team from 86/4 in the 14th over.

Ireland’s Fielding Woes Add to Their Troubles
Ireland’s fielding lapses proved costly, with a few dropped catches allowing Sri Lanka to build momentum. Although the early bowling strategy seemed promising, wickets at crucial junctures halted their progress. Spin options provided resistance, but inconsistent execution kept Ireland under pressure.

Powerplay Performance and Key Partnerships
Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka scored 24 off 23 balls, showcasing aggressive strokes, including a deep square leg six off Matthew Humphreys. Kusal Mendis and Chamindu Mendis then stabilized the innings, taking Sri Lanka past 50 in the powerplay. Ireland’s captain Stirling introduced left-arm spinner George Dockrell, who bowled economically and claimed crucial wickets, including Nissanka and Pawan Ratnayake, briefly putting Sri Lanka on the back foot. However, the middle-order partnership ensured Sri Lanka finished with a competitive total of 163/6.

With this win, Sri Lanka kickstart their World Cup journey on a high, while Ireland will need to regroup ahead of their next encounter.