Sri Lanka vs Ireland Live Score, T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 20 runs

Barry McCarthy to Kamil Mishara, Back of a length and outside off, Mishara chops it down towards cover.

Barry McCarthy to Kamil Mishara, Shortish length around leg, Mishara looks to use that bottom hand and whip it away but misses and wears it on the thigh pad.

Barry McCarthy to Kamil Mishara, WIDE! Slightly pace off, a bit fuller and pushed well wide of the off stump.

Barry McCarthy to Kamil Mishara, DROPPED? FOUR! That went past the bowler in a flash. Pitched up fuller on middle and leg, Mishara takes the front leg out and drills it a bit uppishly and to the left of the bowler. Barry McCarthy is late to react and the ball just flies past his hands and runs away to the fence.

One more over for spin in the Powerplay? Nope. Barry McCarthy will bowl the third over.

Mark Adair to Pathum Nissanka, Half volley, outside off, Pathum Nissanka executes a free-flowing cover drive but finds Paul Stirling at extra cover. 13 runs from the first over of pace.

Mark Adair to Kamil Mishara, Similar ball, just a bit quicker. Mishara taps it towards mid on and takes the single.

Mark Adair to Kamil Mishara, FOUR! WHIPPED AWAY! First boundary for Mishara in the World Cup. On a length, around middle, just a hint of inward movement, Kamil Mishara just whips it over mid-wicket and with no soul in the deep, it is a boundary.

Mark Adair to Kamil Mishara, That in-between length, lands on leg and darts across the left-hander. Kamil Mishara looks to hang back and defend but gets an outside edge that rolls down to gully and the fielder over there dives to his left and deflects it behind. The batters get two runs here.

Mark Adair to Kamil Mishara, WIDE. On a good length, wide outside off and this one angles further away from the left-hander. Mishara is unable to reach it and a wide is called.

Mark Adair to Pathum Nissanka, Back of a length again and outside off, Nissanka stands tall and plays the square cut through the point region, picking up a single.

Mark Adair to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! That's gone through. Back of a length and outside off, shaping away. Pathum Nissanka gets up on his toes and pats it down to the left of covers. The fielder dives over the ball and lets it through for the first boundary of the contest.

Eventless opening over. Matthew Hayden on air informs us that Humphreys is an ambi-dextrous bowler. From what we have seen so far in the international circuit, Humphreys usually has bowled only left-arm spin. Would be interesting to see him bowl with the right hand. Pace from the other end now. Here's Mark Adair.

Matthew Humphreys to Kamil Mishara, Outside off, Mishara punches it past the diving fielder at cover for a couple to get off the mark.

Matthew Humphreys to Kamil Mishara, Short and outside off, from over the wicket, Kamil Mishara is surprised by the lift and bunts it back to the bowler.

Matthew Humphreys to Pathum Nissanka, Dropped short, sliding down the leg side, Pathum Nissanka goes back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Matthew Humphreys to Pathum Nissanka, Flatter again, slightly outside off, Nissanka stays back and taps it down to backward point.

Matthew Humphreys to Pathum Nissanka, That's much better from the bowler. Pushed through quicker and a touch fuller around off, and this one skids through. Nissanka hangs back to play a late dab but misses.

Matthew Humphreys to Pathum Nissanka, Off the mark straightaway! A bit of a loosener to begin with from Humphreys. This is bowled short and around off, Pathum Nissanka rocks back and pulls it firmly between deep mid-wicket and long on for a couple of runs.

Let's play! The national anthems have been sung and we are ready for the action to begin. For those tuning in just now, a reminder that this is the third game of the day. In the afternoon, New Zealand successfully chased down 183 against Afghanistan in Chennai and just a few moments ago, Nepal fell 4 runs agonizingly short of England's 184 at the Wankhede. The Irish get into a huddle and after a few last-minute words, disperse. Now walk the Lankan openers - Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara. It will be the spin of Matthew Humphreys to start things off. Nissanka to face. Here we go!

Sri Lanka Matha - Yes, that time of the game when every country's individual's hair stands on end. The national anthem. The match officials - that's the four umpires and the match referee - make their way out to the middle. They are followed by the two teams. It will be Ireland's anthem first, succeeded by that of the Lankans.

England save the blushes! Phew. That is what the whole of UK would be feeling right now. England's opening match of the 2026 World Cup, often a slippery peel, against 'minnows' Nepal. Oops... no one is a minnow these days. Especially in T20 cricket. England bat first and post a competitive 184/7. Safe? Think again. Nepal fought tooth and nail and came to needing 10 runs in the last over, unfortunately undone by a brilliant last over from Sam Curran, which went for just 5 runs! England survive a scare and come up triumphs by just 4 runs. Net run rate could be very crucial in this tournament but for now, Harry Brook and co will take the 2 points. The smiles on the English faces reveal more of relief than joy. Tough luck for Nepal, but well fought, lads.

The skipper of Sri Lanka, DASUN SHANAKA, feels that this looks like a very good track, so anything over 170 would be very good on this pitch. On being asked as to what will it take for the Lankans to get back to winning ways, Shanaka replies saying that the team has covered a lot of areas coming ino the World Cup, but is now settled with 5 quality batters and 5 quality bowlers. On the chance of playing a World Cup in front of their home crowd, Dasun admits that the team is excited to play in what can be called as their 'home World Cup'.

PAUL STIRLING, the captain of Ireland, says that the wicket looks drier than the last time. Adds that they need to be at their best and informs that they have gone in with the extra batter.

Ireland (Playing XI) - Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy and Matthew Humphreys.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana.