Sri Lanka dominates Ireland to secure Super Six spot

Sri Lanka players celebrate after capturing an Ireland wicket (Photo credits: ICC)

Sri Lanka convincingly defeated Ireland by 133 runs in their ICC World Cup Qualifier match at Queens Sports Club yesterday. Sri Lanka secured their spot in the Super Six stage of the Qualifier with the win while eliminating Ireland from the World Cup race.

Despite the early fall of openers Paul Stirling (6) and Andy McBrine (17), Ireland tried to keep with the asking rate and finished their first powerplay at 56/2. Wanindu Hasaranga struck in his very first over to remove the Ireland skipper, Andrew Balbirnie. Dasun Shanaka followed this up with the wicket of Lorcan Tucker, and the Ireland chase was in peril.
Harry Tector (33) and Curtis Campher (39) provided last hope to Ireland but their dismissals by the 20-over mark left the Men in Green on the verge of a massive defeat. Ireland’s tail took the aggressive route but couldn’t survive the guile of Hasaranga who finished with 5/79.

Sri Lanka hit the accelerator early on and didn’t let up the pressure against Ireland. Positive batting from Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne helped Sri Lanka get off to a flyer. The duo went run-a-ball for their stand of 48 before Nissanka fell to a mistimed pull against the incoming Barry McCarthy. The very next ball, McCarthy got one to angle in and trapped Kusal Mendis lbw for a duck. Sri Lanka were 58/2 at the end of the first powerplay.

Sadeera Samarawickrama and Karunaratne kept their foot on the pedal as Sri Lanka’s scoring rate went above six runs an over. They continued going great guns after the 25-over mark, even as Ireland didn’t help their case with poor work in the field, including a couple of dropped catches. By the time Gareth Delany had accounted for Samarawickrama (82) in the 36th over, Sri Lanka were 216/3. Karunaratne brought up his maiden ODI century in the very next over, but couldn’t continue for long. He was cleaned up by Mark Adair for 103.
Charith Asalanka (38) and Dhananjaya de Silva (42 n.o.) played important knocks towards the end, but Sri Lanka’s tail failed to wag. They fell way short of 350, which seemed like a strong possibility while Karunaratne and Samarawickrama were at the crease. ( ICC)