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On the back of a clinical bowling performance, one-time champion Sri Lanka trounced hapless Ireland by nine wickets in Hobart and kickstarted their Super-12 campaign in super style. Chasing a modest target of 129 runs, the Islanders got off to a flying start with openers Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Medis leading the team's charge from the onset. The duo registered a 63-run alliance for the opening wicket, which sucked the life out of the contest.
De Silva departed after scoring 31 runs off 25 balls with the help of two fours and a six while his partner Mendis went on to score play stylish knock of 68 not out of 43 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes. Charith Asalanka, who came to bat at number three, chipped in with 31 not out off 22 balls.
Gareth Delany was the only Irish bowler to bag a wicket as finished with figures of 1/28 in four overs.
The Sri Lankan bowlers were right on the money after being asked to bowl as Ireland failed to build substantial partnerships.
Harry Tector was the top-scorer for Ireland, scoring 45 off 42 balls with two fours and one six, while Paul Stirling made 34 off 25 balls during which he struck four boundaries and two hits over the fence.
Maheesh Theekshana (2/19) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2/25) shared four wickets between them, while Lahiru Kumara (1/12), Dhananjaya de Silva (1/13), Chamika Karunaratne (1/29), Binura Fernando (1/27) picked up a wicket each for the island nation.
Opting to bat, Ireland lost skipper Andy Balbirnie early, bowled by Kumara as the batter went for an expansive shot over the keeper and short third-man fielder.
Lorcan Tucker (10) too perished, in somewhat, similar fashion, gloving one back on to his stumps while going across to target the vacant fine-leg area.
Stirling, who had scored a match-winning 66 to guide Ireland to Super 12 stage, played in his usual aggressive style before Bhanuka Rajapaksa took a brilliant catch at deep extra cover to cut short the Irishman's innings.
Curtis Campher lasted for just four deliveries as Ireland slumped to 60 for 4 at the halfway mark of their innings.
Tector and George Dockrell, who played despite being COVID positive but struggled, stitched 47 runs off 41 balls for the fifth wicket to take Ireland past the 100-run mark.
Dockrell's (14 off 16) struggle finally came to an end when Theekshana went through his defence in the 17th over.
Hasanranga then joined the party and dismissed Gareth Delany (9) and Mark Adair in a span of three deliveries in the 19th over as Ireland's batting continued to falter.
