Eire slipped to a 20-run defeat in opposition to T20 World Cup co-hosts Sri Lanka of their Group B opener in Colombo.
Having gained the toss and opted to bowl, Eire made a stable begin within the subject, proscribing Sri Lanka to 71-3 by the tip of the eleventh over after George Dockrell (2-17) picked up two wickets.
Kusal Mendis lastly gave the house crowd one thing to get behind as he pushed the entire on, however then was lucky to be dropped 3 times within the seventeenth over as Matthew Humphreys went for 21 runs.
Within the penultimate over, Barry McCarthy (2-40) took two wickets in two balls to dismiss Kamindu Mendis for 44 off simply 19 balls and Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka for a golden duck. Kusal Mendis then introduced up his half-century –
ending unbeaten on 56 off 43 deliveries, with 5 fours – because the co-hosts made 163-6.
Eire misplaced captain Paul Stirling (six) within the fourth over of their reply when he was bowled by Maheesh Theekshana, however a decided 34 from Ross Adair noticed them on to 72-2 on the midway stage.
Lorcan Tucker (21) and Harry Tector (40) continued to attempt to eat away on the run-chase and Eire have been 104-2 after 14 overs, needing 60 from the final six.
Sri Lanka fought again to make common breakthroughs – together with Theekshana dismissing Ben Calitz and Gareth Delany in successive deliveries – as Eire completed brief, all out for 143 with one ball left after shedding their final eight wickets for 38. Wanindu Hasaranga (3-25) and Theekshana (3-23) claimed three wickets every.
Stirling accepted his aspect had in all probability let the match slip away at essential factors.
“I felt they got 15 to 20 too many,” he mentioned in his post-match on-field interview. “Initially of the day, we might have been completely satisfied chasing it, however you possibly can discover 20 runs nearly anyplace within the match.
“When the match was on the line, we were not as clinical as we wanted to be and a bit sloppy in the field, which is disappointing.
“Expertise informed immediately on the finish of each innings, and it was the distinction. They defended effectively on the again finish, they upped the ante and put the squeeze on.”
Ireland next play Australia on Wednesday, while Sri Lanka face Oman in Pallekele on Thursday.
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