The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group B clash between Sri Lanka and Ireland took place at Colombo (RPS) on February 8, 2026. Sri Lanka posted 163/6 in their 20 overs and then bowled Ireland out for 143 in 19.5 overs. The hosts won the match by 20 runs, thanks to strong batting from both Mendis players and sharp bowling from their spinners.
Kamindu Mendis earned the Player of the Match award for his explosive 44 off just 19 balls. He smashed 4 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 231.57. Kusal Mendis anchored the innings from the other end with an unbeaten 56 off 43 balls. For Ireland, Harry Tector top-scored with 40 off 34, and Ross Adair hit a quick 34 off 23, but their batting collapsed in the second half of the innings. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga picked up 3 wickets each to seal the deal for Sri Lanka.
Match Summary: SL vs IRE
Here is the complete match summary of SL vs IRE, Match 6, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Score | 163/6 (20 overs) |
| Ireland Score | 143 all out (19.5 overs) |
| Match Result | Sri Lanka won by 20 runs |
| Best Batting (SL) | Kusal Mendis – 56* off 43 balls (5 fours) |
| Best Batting (IRE) | Harry Tector – 40 off 34 balls (2 fours, 1 six) |
| Best Bowling (SL) | Maheesh Theekshana – 3/23 in 4 overs (Econ: 5.75) |
| Best Bowling (IRE) | George Dockrell – 2/17 in 4 overs (Econ: 4.25) |
| Player of the Match | Kamindu Mendis (SL) – 44 off 19 balls |
Sri Lanka Innings: 163/6 in 20 Overs
Sri Lanka got off to a solid start in the powerplay. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara put on 28 runs before Mishara fell in the 3.6th over. He scored 14 off 11 balls with 2 fours before McCarthy got him caught by Stirling.
Nissanka played a steady hand at the top, scoring 24 off 23 balls. He hit 1 four and 1 six and faced 41 balls in total before Dockrell dismissed him in the 8.2nd over. At that point, Sri Lanka stood at 62/2.
Kusal Mendis held the innings together from start to finish. He walked in at number 3 and stayed till the end, finishing unbeaten on 56 off 43 balls with 5 fours. He reached his fifty off 39 balls and kept the scoreboard ticking even when wickets fell around him.
The middle order struggled a bit. Pavan Rathnayake could only manage 5 off 9 before Dockrell bowled him. Dunith Wellalage added 10 off 13 before Delany got him caught. Sri Lanka slipped to 86/4 at one stage.
Then Kamindu Mendis walked in and changed everything. He blasted 44 off just 19 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. His strike rate of 231.57 told the whole story. He and Kusal Mendis put together a quick 50-run stand for the 5th wicket in just 26 balls. Kamindu’s blitz pushed Sri Lanka from 100 in the 15th over to 150 by the 18th over.
Dasun Shanaka fell for a duck off just 1 ball in the 18th over, and Wanindu Hasaranga stayed not out on 1. Sri Lanka finished at 163/6, a total that looked competitive on this pitch.
Sri Lanka reached 50 in just 5.6 overs (36 balls), crossed 100 in the 15.3rd over (93 balls), and got to 150 in the 18.2nd over (111 balls). The 9 extras (8 wides, 1 no ball) from Ireland also helped the cause.
George Dockrell was the best bowler for Ireland. He bowled 4 tight overs, giving away just 17 runs and picking up 2 wickets at an economy of 4.25. Gareth Delany also bowled well, taking 1/24 in his 4 overs. However, Matthew Humphreys went for 44 runs in 4 overs without a wicket, and Barry McCarthy leaked 40 runs in just 3 overs with 5 wides. The Irish bowlers struggled to contain the scoring in the death overs, especially when Kamindu Mendis went on the attack.
Ireland Chase: 143 All Out in 19.5 Overs
Ireland needed 164 to win and started their chase with energy. Ross Adair came out firing, smashing 34 off 23 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. He and Paul Stirling put on 24 for the first wicket before Theekshana struck early, bowling Stirling for 6 in the 3.2nd over.
Adair kept the scoring rate up and pushed Ireland to 45/1 at the end of the powerplay in 6 overs. He and Harry Tector started to build a partnership, taking Ireland past 50 in 6.3 overs (39 balls). But Hasaranga broke the stand, bowling Adair in the 7.6th over with the score at 56/2.
Harry Tector played the best innings for Ireland. He scored 40 off 34 balls with 2 fours and 1 six, striking at 117.64. Along with Lorcan Tucker (21 off 18), he took Ireland to 100 in 13.4 overs (82 balls). At the drinks break, Ireland stood at 104/2 in 14 overs, and the chase looked very much alive.
But then everything fell apart. Hasaranga removed Tector, caught by Rathnayake. Wellalage got Tucker caught by Mishara. Suddenly, the pressure mounted. Theekshana delivered the knockout blows in quick succession. He stumped Ben Calitz for 4, and in his very next delivery, got Gareth Delany caught by Chameera for a duck.
Curtis Campher tried to hold things together with 13 off 11, but Hasaranga got him caught by Shanaka. Ireland crashed from 105/3 to 120/6 in a hurry. The lower order could not recover. George Dockrell hit 9 off 7, and Mark Adair made 10 off 6, but it was too little too late.
Matheesha Pathirana wrapped up the tail. He bowled Humphreys for a duck and also got Dockrell caught earlier. Ireland finished at 143 all out in 19.5 overs, falling 20 runs short of the target.
Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers. He finished with 3/23 in 4 overs at an economy of 5.75. His ability to turn the ball and create chances kept Ireland under constant pressure. Wanindu Hasaranga matched him with 3/25 in 4 overs and broke key partnerships at crucial moments. Matheesha Pathirana chipped in with 2/26 in 2.5 overs, while Dunith Wellalage and Dushmantha Chameera took 1 wicket each. Sri Lanka used 6 bowlers in total, and their spinners dominated the middle and death overs.
Key Highlight: Player of the Match – Kamindu Mendis Steals the Show
Kamindu Mendis put on a match-winning display with the bat. He walked in at number 6 with Sri Lanka at 86/4 and completely shifted the momentum. His 44 off 19 balls came at a strike rate of 231.57, and he hit 4 fours and 2 sixes during his blitz. His partnership with Kusal Mendis for the 5th wicket produced 50 runs in just 26 balls and took Sri Lanka from a competitive total to a commanding one.
He earned the Cricinfo MVP award with 72.31 points for his all-round impact on the game. Without his explosive knock, Sri Lanka might have finished closer to 140, making Ireland’s chase much easier.
Kusal Mendis also deserves huge credit. His unbeaten 56 off 43 balls held the innings together. He batted through all 20 overs, provided stability when wickets fell, and rotated the strike well. His partnership with Kamindu Mendis at the end proved to be the difference between the two sides.
Conclusion: Sri Lanka Beat Ireland and started its tournament with Win
Sri Lanka picked up a comfortable 20-run win in their Group B match at home in Colombo. Their spin trio of Theekshana, Hasaranga, and Wellalage took 7 wickets between them, showing that the Colombo pitch offers plenty for slow bowlers. This win gives Sri Lanka early momentum in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Ireland started their chase well but fell apart once the spinners got to work. The collapse from 105/3 to 120/6 cost them the game. They will need to handle spin better if they want to compete in the remaining group matches.
This match showed why Sri Lanka is tough to beat at home. Their batting depth, led by the two Mendis players, combined with a strong spin attack, makes them a serious threat in this tournament. For Ireland, George Dockrell’s 2/17 was a bright spot, but they need more consistency across their bowling lineup and better middle-order batting against spin.
