| 0.0 :  TOSS - The coin goes up and lands in favour of Ireland. They have elected to BAT first. |
| Andy Balbirnie, the skipper of Ireland says that they will bat first and the plan is to put a score on the board. Adds that the group stages were high pressure cricket but to qualify gives them a lot of confidence. On Sri Lankan spinners, says that they have been lucky playing Afghanistan in recent times who also have quality spin attack. Mentions that this ground has been good to them. Informs they are unchanged. |
| Dasun Shanaka, the skipper of Sri Lanka says that they would have bowled first as well. Informs that Pathum Nissanka has been struggling with his groin injury and is being rested for this game. Tells those front boundaries are over 80 metres and square boundaries are short, so they need to take that into consideration. |
| Ireland (Unchanged Playing XI) - Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (C), Lorcan Tucker (WK), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little. |
| Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Kusal Mendis (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Ashen Bandara (In place of Pathum Nissanka), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando. |
| It is for the national anthems now! A proud moment for the players from both sides and we will start with the Irish national anthem first. It will be followed by the Lankan national anthem. |
| We are all ready for the cricketing action to begin now! The Sri Lankan players are out there in the middle. Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie are the openers for Ireland. Binura Fernando to start with the ball. Here we go... |
| 0.5 : Binura Fernando to Andy Balbirnie, Binura Fernando follows the batter well and serves this on a length, on leg, angling in, Andy Balbirnie makes room and knocks it towards cover for a run and gets off the mark. |
| 0.6 : Binura Fernando to Paul Stirling, Goes fuller this time, on off, Paul Stirling opens the face of his bat and guides it towards point. Only two runs from the first over then. |
| Lahiru Kumara to start from the other end. |
| 1.1 : Lahiru Kumara to Andy Balbirnie, OUT! TIMBER! Lahiru Kumara strikes on his very first ball and draws first blood! An early breakthrough for Sri Lanka which will give them confidence. Kumara begins with a full delivery, on middle, Andy Balbirnie tries to be cheeky and goes for the scoop shot, but gets beaten by the pace and the ball goes through to rattle the stumps. There was no need of that shot at this stage of the match and Irish skipper has to go back. Ireland lose their first wicke |
| Lorcan Tucker is the next man in. |
| 1.2 : Lahiru Kumara to Lorcan Tucker, Lahiru Kumara serves a length delivery now, this is outside off and Tucker drives it firmly but straight to mid off. |
| 1.3 : Lahiru Kumara to Lorcan Tucker, FOUR! Lorcan Tucker is underway with a boundary! What a confident shot! Short and wide outside off. Tucker stays back and cuts it over the point fielder for a boundary. |
| 1.4 : Lahiru Kumara to Lorcan Tucker, Fuller one and around off, Lorcan Tucker drives it firmly but finds the fielder at cover. |
| 1.5 : Lahiru Kumara to Lorcan Tucker, On a length and on middle and leg, Lorcan Tucker tucks it towards square leg for a single. |
| 1.6 : Lahiru Kumara to Paul Stirling, This is pitched up, on off, Paul Stirling loses his grip while playing the drive and the ball goes uppishly through extra cover for a run. |
| 2.1 : Binura Fernando to Paul Stirling, FOUR! Up and over! Binura Fernando bowls this full and on off, Paul Stirling makes room and takes a couple of steps down the track to crunch it over cover-point for a boundary. |
| 2.2 : Binura Fernando to Paul Stirling, A slower one now, on a a length and on leg, Paul Stirling works it through square leg for a single. |
| 2.3 : Binura Fernando to Lorcan Tucker, WIDE! Binura Fernando loses his line a bit and bowls a good-length delivery but down the leg side, Tucker misses his flick. Wided. |
| Binura Fernando to Lorcan Tucker, Touch fuller and on the pads, Lorcan Tucker helps it towards short fine leg. |
| 2.4 : Binura Fernando to Lorcan Tucker, Just over! Binura Fernando bowls this on a good length and on middle. Lorcan Tucker goes for the scoop but hits it with the top half of the bat and the ball goes in the air behind short fine leg, Binura Fernando there tries to run back and dives but cannot reach it. Three runs taken! |
| 2.5 : Binura Fernando to Paul Stirling, Slower again and on length, outside off, Paul Stirling dabs it towards short third man. |
| 2.6 : Binura Fernando to Paul Stirling, Length again and on leg, Paul Stirling knocks it towards square leg for a single. |
| 3.1 : Lahiru Kumara to Paul Stirling, Lahiru Kumara lands this short and on middle, Paul Stirling gets hurried and mistimes his pull shot wide of mid on for a single. |
| 3.2 : Lahiru Kumara to Lorcan Tucker, This is on a good length and on middle and leg, Lorcan Tucker attempts the ramp shot again but fails to connect. |
| 3.3 : Lahiru Kumara to Lorcan Tucker, Full and on off, Lorcan Tucker uses his feet and drills it towards mid off for a quick single. |
| 3.4 : Lahiru Kumara to Paul Stirling, Swing and a miss! Lahiru Kumara serves this full and on the fifth stump line, Paul Stirling makes room and tries to clear the in-field on the off side but misses. |
| 3.5 : Lahiru Kumara to Paul Stirling, This is almost on a yorker length and on off, Paul Stirling digs it out towards point. |
| 3.6 : Lahiru Kumara to Paul Stirling, FOUR! Powered away! Lahiru Kumara tries for the yorker again but bowls this full, on off, Paul Stirling stays there and smashes it past mid off for a boundary. |
| Time for some spin now. Maheesh Theekshana is into the attack. |
| 4.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Lorcan Tucker, Maheesh Theekshana starts with a flatter delivery, on middle, Lorcan Tucker tucks it towards mid-wicket for a single. |
| 4.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Paul Stirling, Quicker one, full toss and on leg, Paul Stirling misses his sweep and the keeper lets it through too. A bye is taken. |
| 4.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Lorcan Tucker, Tossed up and around middle, Lorcan Tucker moves across and sweeps it towards short fine leg. |
| 4.4 : Harry Tector walks out to the middle now. |
| Maheesh Theekshana to Lorcan Tucker, OUT! TIMBER! Maheesh Theekshana gets his first wicket of the match and Sri Lanka are on top now! He bowls this quicker, short and on middle, Lorcan Tucker shuffles across to play the sweep but misses and the ball deflects off his gloves onto the stumps. Another ordinary shot and Tucker goes for a cheap score. Ireland two down now! |
| 4.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, Maheesh Theekshana with a carrom ball now. It is outside off and Tector gets beaten on the outside edge as he looks to defend it. |
| 4.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, Another dot to end the over! Top-class over from a top-class bowler. This one is on the fullish length, outside off and Tector drives it to covers. |
| 5.1 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, Starts off with a length delivery, on middle. Paul Stirling skips down the track and punches it straight to the point fielder. |
| 0.4 : Chamika Karunaratne comes into the attack now. |
| 5.2 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, FOUR! This time he hammers it away! A slower delivery and a half-volley on middle. Paul Stirling waits for it and powers it down the ground for a boundary. |
| 5.3 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, SIX! Paul Stirling has decided to take on Chamika Karunaratne here! Shortish delivery on middle. Paul Stirling makes room and cuts it over the point fence for a maximum. |
| 5.4 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, Overcompensates and bowls a full toss on the pads. Paul Stirling flicks it to fine leg for a single. |
| 5.5 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, In the air...but safe! A fullish slower delivery on middle. Tector is bit early in his push and does so aerially and right of the bowler. Chamika Karunaratne does not get his hand to it and a single is taken as the ball rolls towards mid on. |
| 5.6 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, An overpitched delivery on off. Paul Stirling drives it firmly to deep extra-cover for a couple. Ireland are 40 for 2 after the Powerplay! |
| 0.1 : Binura Fernando to Paul Stirling, Ireland and Paul Stirling are underway! Binura Fernando starts with a pitched up delivery, on middle, swinging in, Paul Stirling strokes it towards mid on for a single. |
| 0.2 : Binura Fernando to Andy Balbirnie, Full again and on off, Andy Balbirnie drives it straight to mid off. |
| 0.3 : Binura Fernando to Andy Balbirnie, Binura Fernando pulls his length back a bit and bowls this on off, Andy Balbirnie pushes it towards cover. |
| 0.4 : Binura Fernando to Andy Balbirnie, This is on a good length and around leg, Andy Balbirnie looks to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. |
| 5.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga has been introduced into the attack. |
| 6.1 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, The leg-spinner starts with a shortish delivery on off. Tector reverse paddles it wide of short third man for a couple. |
| 6.2 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Short and wide outside off. Tector cuts it to sweeper cover for a single. |
| 6.3 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Paul Stirling, A flatter one on off. Paul Stirling goes deep in his crease and works it towards mid-wicket for a single. |
| 6.4 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Wanindu Hasaranga continues to be tad short, on middle and Tector clips it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 6.5 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Paul Stirling, Bowls it quicker and on off. Paul Stirling punches it to sweeper cover for an easy single. |
| 6.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Googly this time. A fullish length as well on middle and Tector nudges it towards the leg side. 6 from the first over of Wanindu Hasaranga! |
| 7.1 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, Beats the outside edge! Back of a length and around off. Paul Stirling tries to guide it towards third man but misses. |
| 7.2 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, Big appeal from the bowler but turn down! Back of a length on off. Paul Stirling goes deep in his crease and tries to heave it towards the leg side. He misses and gets hit on the pads. There is an appeal for an LBW but it is too high and no damage done in the end. |
| 7.3 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, Lahiru Kumara drops a catch now! A fullish delivery on middle. Paul Stirling tries to launch it down the ground. However, he gets only the bottom of his blade and the ball goes aerially towards left of long on. Kumara runs and covers good ground, reaches the ball, gets his fingertip to it but fails to grab it. Single taken. Costly miss this. |
| 7.4 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, A fullish delivery on middle. Tector drives it to long on for a single. |
| 7.5 : Chamika Karunaratne to Paul Stirling, Back of a length and outside off. Paul Stirling cuts it to deep point for a single. |
| 7.6 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, Single to end the over and 50 up for Ireland. On a length and outside off. Tector steers it towards third man for a single. |
| Dhananjaya de Silva replaces Wanindu Hasaranga. |
| 8.1 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Harry Tector, Shortish delivery on off. Tector punches it to cover-point. |
| 8.2 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Harry Tector, Angling into middle this time. Tector clips it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 8.3 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Paul Stirling, FOUR! Finds the gap! Dhananjaya de Silva bowls it short and on middle. Paul Stirling pulls it aerially but in the gap towards the mid-wicket fence for a boundary. |
| 8.4 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Paul Stirling, OUT! CAUGHT! Paul Stirling departs and this time a brilliant catch by Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the deep! This is a fullish delivery on middle. Paul Stirling makes room and drives it aerially to go inside out towards extra cover fence. However, he hits it a bit straightish and Bhanuka Rajapaksa at long off runs to his left, covers good ground and slides to take a fantastic catch in the end. Big wicket and Ireland lose their third now. |
| Curtis Campher walks out to bat now. |
| 8.5 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Curtis Campher, Tosses up on off. Curtis Campher works it to long on for a single. |
| 8.6 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Harry Tector, Another fullish delivery on middle. Harry Tector drives it along the ground to long on for a single. |
| 9.1 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, A fullish delivery on off. Tector shimmies down the track and drives it firmly to mid off. |
| 9.2 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, Back of a length, around off. Tector moves across to his right and works it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 9.3 : Chamika Karunaratne to Curtis Campher, Back of a length and around off. Curtis Campher cuts it to the point fielder. |
| 9.4 : Chamika Karunaratne to Curtis Campher, On a length, on middle. Curtis Campher works it to long on for a single. |
| 9.5 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, Bowls a fullish delivery on middle. Tector clips it to wide long on for a single. |
| 9.6 : Chamika Karunaratne to Curtis Campher, OUT! CAUGHT! Chamika Karunaratne strikes and the in-form Curtis Campher departs now. This is a big blow to Ireland and Chamika Karunaratne is absolutely pumped. Shortish delivery, around off. However, the key is that it is an off-pace delivery and Curtis Campher waits for it a bit and then cuts it uppishly to the left of the point fielder. Charith Asalanka there takes a sharp catch and Ireland are in trouble now. |
| 10.1 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Harry Tector, Tossed up, full and on off, Harry Tector drills it wide of long on for a brace. |
| 10.2 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Harry Tector, Floated, full and on middle, Harry Tector goes down and sweeps it towards deep square leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : Drinks break! Sri Lanka are on top at the halfway mark! They have bowled really well and a couple of ordinary shots from the Irish batters also helped them. They will want to get to the tail of Ireland quickly and restrict them to a low total. On the other hand, Ireland need a partnership to stay in the game. An exciting session of cricket awaits us as George Dockrell walks out to the middle now. |
| 10.3 : Dhananjaya de Silva to George Dockrell, Flighted delivery, full and on middle, George Dockrell eases it towards long on for a run and gets off the mark. |
| 10.4 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Harry Tector, Flatter, full and on middle, Harry Tector looks to work it on the leg side but closes the face of the bat early and gets a leading edge towards point. |
| 10.5 : Dhananjaya de Silva to Harry Tector, Short and on middle, Harry Tector moves back and pulls it towards the right of deep mid-wicket where the fielder extends his hand and makes a one-handed stop. Only a single. |
| 10.6 : Dhananjaya de Silva to George Dockrell, Looped up, full and on middle, George Dockrell chips it down to long on for one. |
| 11.1 : Chamika Karunaratne to George Dockrell, On a length and on off, George Dockrell punches it straight to short cover. |
| 11.2 : Chamika Karunaratne to George Dockrell, Overthrows! This is on a good length and on off, George Dockrell dabs it towards point and sets off for a run but he is sent back. The fielder has a shy at the batter's end but misses and gives away an extra run. |
| 11.3 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, FOUR! Good shot! Chamika Karunaratne bowls this a touch fuller and on off, Harry Tector skips down the track and lofts it over mid off for a boundary. |
| 11.4 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, A slower one now, on length and on middle, Harry Tector flicks it off the back foot through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 11.5 : Chamika Karunaratne to George Dockrell, Goes fuller and on leg, George Dockrell tucks it towards deep square leg for one more. |
| 11.6 : Chamika Karunaratne to Harry Tector, This is on a length and on leg, angling in, Harry Tector uses his feet and works it through square leg for another run. |
| 12.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, Floated, full and on leg, angling in, Harry Tector clips it towards deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 12.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to George Dockrell, Tossed up, full and on off, George Dockrell drives it uppishly past cover for a run. |
| 12.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, A low full toss, on off, Harry Tector drives it towards long off for one. |
| 12.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to George Dockrell, Slower through the air, on leg, George Dockrell moves back and works it towards mid-wicket for a run. |
| 12.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, Quicker, full and on off, Harry Tector drills it towards the left of cover where the fielder dives to that side to stop the single. |
| 12.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, A bit short and on middle, Harry Tector goes on his back foot and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for another run. |
| 13.1 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, SIX! BANG! Harry Tector sends this one out of the ground! This is short and on middle, Harry Tector moves back quickly and pulls it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. |
| 13.2 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Short again and on off, Harry Tector cuts it towards sweeper cover where the fielder fumbles a bit and allows the second run. |
| 0.0 : Wanindu Hasaranga is back into the attack now. He has bowled only one over so far and these three overs from him will be crucial in the context of this game. |
| 13.3 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Tossed up, full and on middle, Harry Tector tucks it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 13.4 : Wanindu Hasaranga to George Dockrell, Floated, short and on off, George Dockrell punches it through cover for another run. |
| 13.5 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Flighted delivery, full and on middle, Harry Tector eases it towards long on for a one. |
| 13.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga to George Dockrell, Tossed up, full and on leg, George Dockrell drives it towards long on for one more. 12 runs from the over! |
| 14.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to George Dockrell, Short and on middle, George Dockrell pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a run. |
| 14.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, FOUR! Innovative and effective! Maheesh Theekshana floats this one up, on middle, Harry Tector makes it a full toss and reverse sweeps it past short third man for a boundary. |
| 14.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, A googly now, full and on middle, Harry Tector drives it towards long on for a single. |
| 14.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to George Dockrell, Shorter in length and on middle, George Dockrell pulls it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 14.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, Shortish again and on off, Harry Tector slaps it down to long on for one. |
| 14.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to George Dockrell, Quicker one, almost on a yorker length, on middle, George Dockrell looks to go for the sweep but adjust and works it through mid-wicekt for a single. 100 up for Ireland! |
| 15.1 : Wanindu Hasaranga to George Dockrell, A fullish delivery angling into leg. George Dockrell makes room and pushes it bit aerially to long on for a single. |
| 15.2 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Tad shorter and flatter on off. Tector punches it to covers. |
| 15.3 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, This is short and on middle. Tector pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 15.4 : Wanindu Hasaranga to George Dockrell, Touch fuller but still on the shortish side, on middle. George Dockrell goes deep in his crease and punches it to long on for a single. |
| 15.5 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Tossed up and fuller, outside off. Tector drives it to the cover fielder. |
| 15.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Tector, Single to end the over and Wanindu Hasaranga still remains wicketless. Shortish delivery, outside off. Tector cuts it to sweeper cover for a single. Just 4 from the over though. Can Ireland reach something around 150 from here? |
| 16.1 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, A flatter one on middle. Tector makes room and drills it to long on for a single. |
| 16.2 : Maheesh Theekshana to George Dockrell, Touch short and on middle. George Dockrell makes room and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 16.3 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, DOT! This is a flatter one, around leg. Tector makes room and punches it to extra cover. |
| 16.4 : Maheesh Theekshana to Harry Tector, A flatter one on off. Tector reverse-sweeps it to backward point for a single. |
| 16.5 : Gareth Delany comes out to the middle now. |
| 16.6 : Binura Fernando (2-0-12-0)Â is back on. |
| 16.5 : Maheesh Theekshana to George Dockrell, OUT! BOWLED! Maheesh Theekshana strikes and gets his second wicket! Runs were not coming at a quick rate and George Dockrell tries to force the issue but pays the price. This is a fullish and quicker delivery on middle. George Dockrell makes room and tries to launch it down the ground. He, however, misses it and the ball knocks over the stumps. A timely wicket for the Lankans. |
| 17.1 : Binura Fernando to Gareth Delany, Single to start the over! Back of a length, on off. A slower delivery and Gareth Delany dabs it towards the off side for a single. |
| 16.6 : Maheesh Theekshana to Gareth Delany, Ends his spell by bowling a full delivery on off. Gareth Delany drives it to covers for a single. |
| 17.2 : Binura Fernando to Harry Tector, Bowls a yorker on off. Tector somehow manages to dig it out to mid off for a single. |
| 17.3 : Binura Fernando to Gareth Delany, A slower back-of-a-length delivery, around off. Delany tries to cut it but gets an outside edge. Keeper dives to his right to stop it but fails to reach the ball. The fielder at short third man then dives and half-stops it. Two taken. |
| 17.4 : Binura Fernando to Gareth Delany, FOUR! This time a boundary! Back of a length and outside off. Delany swings and gets a thick outside edge. The ball goes over the short third man fielder this time for a boundary. |
| 17.5 : Binura Fernando to Gareth Delany, A fullish delivery on middle. Gareth Delany drills it to long on for a single. |
| 17.6 : Binura Fernando to Harry Tector, OUT! CAUGHT! That's the end of Harry Tector! Good knock from the Irish but it is Sri Lanka who are on top here. This is on a length and around off. It is angled across the batter and slower in pace as well. Tector dances down the track and looks to power it away. However, he gets no timing on this one and the ball loops up in the air towards mid off. Dasun Shanaka moves to his right and takes an easy catch. |
| Mark Adair is the next man in for Sri Lanka. Also, Wanindu Hasaranga (3-0-22-0) to bowl out now. |
| 18.1 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Gareth Delany, OUT! CAUGHT! Two in two now for Sri Lanka and Ireland are falling apart here. This one is tossed up on off. Gareth Delany goes for a big slog-sweep but does not get enough power behind this shot. The ball goes aerially towards deep mid-wicket and Chamika Karunaratne in the deep moves to his left and fumbles a bit but but holds onto the catch in the end. |
| 18.2 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Simi Singh, Shortish and outside off. Snigh tries to cut it but misses. |
| 0.0 : Simi Singh comes out to the middle now. |
| 18.3 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Simi Singh, Tossed up on middle. Singh clips it to deep square leg for a single. |
| 18.4 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Mark Adair, OUT! Another one bites the dust! This one is tossed up again and slower through the air, on middle. Mark Adair dances down the track and tries to power it down the ground. However, he does not get the required distance and ends up hitting it straight to long on where Chamika Karunaratne takes a fine catch. |
| 18.5 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Barry McCarthy, Tossed up again and outside off. Barry McCarthy drives it to cover for a single. |
| 18.4 : Barry McCarthy walks out to bat now. |
| 18.6 : Wanindu Hasaranga to Simi Singh, Another loopy delivery on off. Singh sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a single. |
| 19.1 : Binura Fernando to Simi Singh, Nails a yorker, outside off. Singh skips down the track and makes room to hit it but fails to get any bat on it. |
| 19.2 : Binura Fernando to Simi Singh, Another dot! Bowls a wide yorker again, Singh advances and tries to dig it out but misses. |
| 19.3 : Binura Fernando to Simi Singh, Tries a yorker again but ends up bowling a full toss on off. Singh only manages to hit it to long on for a single. |
| 19.4 : Binura Fernando to Barry McCarthy, A fullish delivery, outside off. Barry McCarthy drives it to extra-cover and takes a single. |
| 19.5 : Binura Fernando to Simi Singh, FOUR! Much-needed boundary for Ireland! Singh knows that it will be a wide yorker again and he shuffles across to his right to scoop this full delivery over short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 19.6 : Binura Fernando to Simi Singh, Two byes off the final delivery! Back of a length and on middle. Singh gets across to his right and tries to hit it behind square on the leg side. He misses and the ball goes off the bounce to the keeper. The batters try to steal a bye and keeper throws it towards the bowler. He fails to collect it cleanly and the batters then go for the second run. Maheesh Theekshana who comes running in at the bowler's end to collect the throw fails to grab it and two byes |
| A clinical death bowling performance from Lankan bowlers and they absolutely gave nothing away at the end. Ireland have managed to get to 128 runs, but Sri Lanka will be the happier side going into the break. |
| Ireland could not replicate their batting effort which they showed against the Windies. They were pretty ordinary with their shot selection as well and played it into the hands of Sri Lanka. They could not build any partnerships in the middle and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. However, Paul Stirling scored some runs and a hard fought 45 from Harry Tector have taken Ireland to close to that 130-mark. They know that they are 20-25 runs short, but they need to come out to defend with |
| Sri Lanka despite missing their frontline pacers have done really well here to restrict the Irish batters to an under-par score. It was once again their spinners who were key to their performance and the pacers also supported them. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana took a couple of wickets each and every bowler got into the wickets column. They will be confident to chase down this total. |
| ... THE RUN CHASE ... |
| Right then, Ireland have put on below-par score on the board but they know that the Lankan batters are not in great form and if they can get early wickets they can make a game out of this. Sri Lanka just need to bat sensibly and they will get to this total. Let's see how it unfolds. Stay tuned for the second essay. |
| We are back for the chase! |
| Harry Tector is up for a chat. He says that Sri Lanka bowled well and the wicket was also a bit tacky. Tells that they are 20 runs short but adds that these things happen and they need to deal with it. Mentions that they need to bowl on good lengths and adds that slower balls are effective on this pitch as it is a bit tacky. Tells that Lankan spinners bowled well and he is hoping that they can replicate that too. |
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