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Sri Lanka began their Super 12 campaign with a massive win over Ireland at Bellerive Oval in Hobart i🍒n the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 on Sunday.
Batting first, the Irish side just couldn’t get going as the Lankan bowlers gave them no breathing space at all and restricted at 128/8. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasranga were the pick of the bowlers for the Islanders.
Theekshana bagged two wickets for 19 runs in his quota of 4 overs, while Hasaranga claimed two scalps for 25 in 4 overs. Harry Tector, with 45 off 42 balls, was the top-scoღrer for Ireland.
In response, Sri Lanka easily gunned down the target in just 15 overs with nine wickets in hand. Opener Kusal Mendis hit an unbeaten 68 off just 43 balls, with the help of five fours and three sixes. Dhananjaya de Silva (31 off 25) and Charith Asalanka (31 not ꧟out) added valuable runs to the crucial win of Sri Lanka.
“The bowlers did really well to limit them to a low score, and I just played my game. I was just told to play the first 6 overs and then continue, the aim basically was to last 10 overs, but we were chasing a low score. We wanted to win within 17 overs, Charith (Asalanka) told me to not put myself under any pressure,” said Mendis at the post-match presentation.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Ireland ✅
What a commanding win by Sri Lanka! 🙌
Kusal Mendis led th𓆉e chase with an unbeaten 68.— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
Sri Lanka start off their Super 12൲ campaign in style 👏 | |𒉰 📝:
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup)
Sri Lanka win by nine wickets.
Congratulations to them.
SCORE: ☘️🏏
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland)
Sri Lanka have defeated Ireland in their opening match of Super 12s. What a dominating win for Sri ඣLanka, Kusal Men🥃dis the star with an unbeaten 68.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)
Leading wicket taker in T20 World Cup 2021 and Leading wicket taker currently in T20 World Cup 2022 – One name, Wanindu Hasaranga.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 9 wickets.
Scorecard: |— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
Most player of the match awa♉rd🐼s in T20Is by visiting players in Australia 🇦🇺.
3 awards – 🇱🇰 KUSAL MENDIS ***
2 awards – 🇱🇰 Asela Gunaratne
2 awards – 🇮🇳 Virat Kohli
2 awards – 🇿🇼 Sikandar Raza
2 awards – 🇳🇱 Bas de Leede— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ)
1⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ runs in the formats for Kusal Mendis with back to back fifties in the T20 World Cup, becoming the 9th Sri Lankan batter to reach the milestone. Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 9 wicket🐎s and are placed 2nd in the table with a NRR of +🧸2.47!
— Akhila Seneviratne (@AkhilaSene97)
Kusal Mendis is a big reason for Sri Lanka's recent good form. He has allowed Sri Lanka to score faster during both the powerplay and the middle overs. But he has not yet received the recognition he deserves.
— The Armchair Critic (@DArmChairCritic)
Theekshana with yet another economical performance along with two wickets this time. Guy went for just 19 runs in his four overs. Gave away just a single run and picked a🍸 wicket in the one over his bowled inside powerplay too.
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire)
