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Sri Lanka defeated Ireland by 70 runs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi to become the firsꦓt team to qualify for 𝐆the Super 12 stage in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 on Wednesday.
Chasing the massive target of 172, Ireland didn’t start well as the experienced opening duo of Kevin O Brien (5), and Paul Stirling (7) were dismissed early. Soon, Gareth♏ Delany (2) also lost his wicket as the Irish side were reduced to 3🃏2/3 in 4.2 overs.
Then, captain Andrew Balbirnie and all-rounder Curtis Campher tried to calm things down. The pair added a vital partnership of 53 runs to stabilise the innings before Maheesh Theekshana broke the stand by removing Campher for 24.
The dismissal of Campher opened floodgates as Ireland were bundled out for 101, to lose the contest by a huge margin of 70 runs. Theekshana ended up picking three scalps for 17 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Similarly, Chamika Karunaratne (2/27) and Lahiru Kumara (2/22) bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had a terrible start losing three wickets for just 8 runs in 1.4 overs. Then, opener Pathum Nissanka and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga took charge to take 🦋the Islanders out of trouble. The pair put together a much-needed stand of 123 runs for thꦦe fourth wicket.
Both the batters smashed respective half-centuries to bring back Sri Lanka into the game. While Nissanka scored 61 runs off 47 balls, Hasaranga top𓃲-scored with 71 from 47 deliveꦅries with the help of 11 boundaries.
Captain Dasun Shanaka chipped in with an unbeaten 21 to help Sri Lankꦍ🔯a post 171/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
For the Irish side, Joshua Little was their most successful bowler. The left-armer picked up a four-wicket haul while giving away 23 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Apart from Little, Mark Adair bagged a couಞple of scalps, and Stirling took one wicket.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Sri Lank🏅a beat Ireland by ♛a whopping margin of 70 runs! 👊
2️⃣ points secured. ✅
Spot in the Super 12. ✅— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
As expected clinical bowling performance. Good win under pressure & with competition getting tougher top order batting woes is a huge concern! Can sense a change or 2 with conditions be different in Sharjah. K⭕eep going 🧸lads! Onwards & upwards👍🏽
— Farveez Maharoof (@farveezmaharoof)
Brilliant.. brilliant from great resilience .. Congratulations on progressing and achieving the first goal. Now for bigger🌃 challe❀nges 👏👏👏
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69)
Great effort by team was outstanding were brilliant with the bat and all bowlers were 💞fantastic! 👏👏👏
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews)
Sri Lanka are through to the Supe🐭r 12 stage 💪 | |
— ICC (@ICC)
Wanindu Hasaranga won the Man of the Match Award for his brilliant 71 runs.
Congratulations 🙏— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet)
21-year old 'Mystery' spinner Maheesh Theekshana is currently the leading wicket-taker in the with 6 wickets in 2 matches.
vs Namibia – 3/25
vs Ireland – 3/17What a find for Sri Lanka. 👏🏼🇱🇰
— Damith Weerasinghe (@Damith1994)
Fifty for Wanindu Hasaranga! What a knock!
— stuart broad apologist (@cricketpun_duh)
Excellent day out for Wanidu. We knew he can do it from the start, revived Sri Lanka with the bat first before the bowling unit came together to smash Ireland. They will want to sort the top order blues, should be fun ꧟watching them play with this combina🦩tion.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS)
Maheesh ♊Theekshana, came into the World Cup with 3 matches experience in T20I, just 21 year old and has picked 6 wickets from 2 matches and made it easier for Sri Lanka to qualify into Super 12.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
/ജ/twitter.com/DinukaNirmal/status/1450879847614484484
//twitter.com/KandyLPL/status/1450878854864809992
