ICC T20 World Cup 2021, SL vs IRE (Qualifier 8): SL outlasts IRE by 70 runs to virtually seal Super 12s berth

Sri Lanka proved to be too good for Ireland, as it won by 70 runs in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 Qualifier 8 of Group A in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. As a result, Lanka has virtually sealed its Super 12s berth.

ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Sri Lanka vs Ireland (Group A, Qualifier 8): Report, result, winner-ayh

Ayush Gupta

Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates, First Published Oct 20, 2021, 11:21 PM IST

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka came up with a dominating performance to outlive Ireland by 70 runs in Group A's Qualifier 8 of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. With this win, Lanka has virtually sealed its Super 12s berth, while Ireland remains in contention.

Winning the toss, Irish skipper Andrew Balbirnie opted to bowl, making a change by bringing in Craig Young. As for Lanka, captain Dasun Shanaka moved in with the same playing XI.

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Lanka was off to a panicky start, losing Kusal Perera (0), Dinesh Chandimal (6) and Avishka Fernando (0) by the second over of the Powerplay, with just eight runs on the board. However, Ireland's early joy turned into dismay as opener Pathum Nissanka (61) and Wanindu Hasaranga (71) contributed to a 123-run stand for the fourth wicket, with both scoring their maiden T20I half-century.

In the 16th over, Hasaranga departed to Mark Adair, followed by Bhanuka Rajapaksa (1) to Joshua Little in the following over at 143, and Nissanka to the same man in the 19th, 14 runs later. At 160, Chamika Karunaratne (2) was the last man to fall off Adair in the final over, as Lanka finished on 171/7. The Irish put six bowlers into the attack, with Little claiming four, while Paul Stirling was very economical.

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In reply, Ireland was off to a shaky start as well, losing openers Stirling (7), Kevin O Brien (5) and Gareth Delany (2) by the fifth over of the PP, with 32 runs on the board. A 53-run stand between Balbirine (41) and Curtis Campher (24) happened before the latter fell in the 13th over to Maheesh Theekshana.

It was thereon that the Irish lost wickets in a flurry, as every five odd runs, wickets kept tumbling, while the side was eventually bowled out at 101, resulting in a mammoth 70-run win for Lanka within the 19th over. Lanka utilised five bowlers, with Theekshana claiming three, while Hasaranga seized it with his economy.
Brief scores: Lanka 171/7 (Nissanka- 61, Hasaranga- 71; Little- 4/23) beats Ireland 101 in 18.3 overs (Balbirine- 41; Theekshana- 3/17) by 70 runs.

Last Updated Oct 20, 2021, 11:23 PM IST