T20 World Cup: Sri Lankan spinners shine, restrict Ireland to 128/8

Sri Lanka's clinical bowling restricted Ireland to a paltry total of 128/8 at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

The Sri Lankan bowlers kept things tight and picked wickets at regular intervals not allowing the Irish innings to flourish, and restricting them to a below-par total. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga picked up two wickets each.

Opting to bat first, Irish openers Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie could not replicate their batting partnership from the previous match as Lahiru Kumara bowled Balbirnie in the second over of the match to draw first blood.

Lorcan Tucker walked in at number three but could not make a mark as Maheesh Theekshana dismissed him in the fifth over sending Ireland into trouble. Stirling broke the shackles to get 14 runs off the sixth over with Ireland ending with 40/2 at the end of the powerplay.

Just when it looked that Stirling had found his footing to play a good knock again the batter was sent back by Dhananjaya de Silva to further deepen troubles for the Irish.

Curtis Campher came to the crease with a lot of hopes riding on him since he played a superb knock against Scotland but did not trouble the Sri Lankans as he was dismissed by Chamika Karunaratne cheaply in the 10th over, leaving Ireland tottering at 60/4 at the end of 10 overs.

Harry Tector tried to steady the inning and kept the scoreboard ticking with some glorious shots every now and then. He took Ireland past 100 in the 15th over.

Ireland could only manage 28 runs off the last over five overs after Tector perished in the quest to up the run-rate.

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