In a thrilling encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka secured a commanding 20-run victory over Ireland in the sixth match of the T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers on Sunday. The spotlight was on spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who came agonizingly close to a hat-trick but fell just short in the tense chase.
Sri Lanka, put in to bat first after losing the toss, posted a competitive 163 for 6 in their 20 overs. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara provided a solid foundation with a 28-run stand in the powerplay. Mishara fell for 14 off 11 balls, but Nissanka combined with Kusal Mendis to add 34 runs for the second wicket, steering the innings to 62.
The middle order wobbled as Sri Lanka slipped to 86 for 4, but a rescue act from Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis turned the tide. The duo smashed 67 runs off 29 balls, with Kamindu’s explosive 44 off 19 deliveries—featuring four fours and two sixes—propelling the score. Kusal remained unbeaten on 56 from 43 balls, laced with five boundaries, setting a challenging target.
Ireland’s bowlers fought back, with Barry McCarthy and George Dockrell claiming two wickets each, while Mark Adair and Gareth Delany picked up one apiece.
Chasing 164, Ireland crumbled to 143 all out in 19.5 overs. Captain Paul Stirling and Ross Adair opened with 24 runs, but early breakthroughs left them at 56 for 2. Adair’s 34 off 23 balls gave hope, and Harry Tector’s 40 off 34 alongside Lorcan Tucker added 49 for the third wicket to reach a hundred.
However, the required rate mounted, and once the key partnerships broke, Ireland lost their last five wickets for just 23 runs. Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga starred with 3 wickets each for Sri Lanka. Theekshana’s 17th over was electric: two wickets in the first two balls, Ben Calitz on the third, and Delany on the fourth—missing hat-trick glory by a whisker. Matheesha Pathirana took 2, while Dushmantha Chameera and Dunith Wellalage grabbed one each.
This win boosts Sri Lanka’s campaign in the qualifiers, showcasing their depth in both batting and bowling against a resilient Irish side.