COLOMBO — Sri Lanka secured a 20-run victory over Ireland in the 6th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025-26 Group B, played at R Premadasa Stadium on February 8, 2026.
The co-hosts defended their total of 163/6 with a strong spin performance, but it was Ireland’s fielding errors that truly defined the contest. They simply couldn’t hold onto their chances, dropping seven catches, which let Sri Lanka build a winning score.
Butterfingers Cost Ireland Dearly in Colombo
Ireland won the toss and chose to field first, a decision that initially looked promising. Sri Lanka started their innings briskly, reaching 50/1 in the Powerplay. But Ireland’s spinners tightened things up, restricting the scoring through the middle overs.
Sri Lanka found themselves at 71/3 by the 11th over, then 104/4 after 16 overs. This was when the game swung. Ireland’s fielding let them down badly. They dropped Kusal Mendis when he was on 34. And then Kamindu Mendis on 14. These missed opportunities proved hugely expensive.
Both Mendis batsmen capitalized on their reprieves. Kusal Mendis went on to score an unbeaten 56 from 43 balls, including five boundaries. Kamindu Mendis, given a second life, smashed a rapid 44 off just 19 balls.
This partnership, which added 67 runs off 30 deliveries for the 5th wicket, propelled Sri Lanka’s score. Reports from ESPN noted, “That they could add another 59 to finish on a competitive 163 for 6 was down to Ireland’s sloppy fielding.”
George Dockrell picked up 2-17 for Ireland, and Barry McCarthy took 2-40, but the damage was done on the field.
Spin Web Derailed the Irish Chase
Chasing 164 on a pitch that slowed down in the second innings was always going to be a challenge. Ireland’s chase began solidly enough, reaching 45/1 in their Powerplay. They were 52/1 by the seventh over, and 72/2 at the halfway mark.
Things looked promising at 104/2 after 14 overs, needing 60 runs from 6 overs with eight wickets in hand. But then the wheels came off.
Sri Lanka’s spin attack took control. Wanindu Hasaranga, battling a hamstring issue sustained after just two balls, delivered a crucial spell. He bowled all four overs, finishing with 3-25. His limited follow-through didn’t stop him from dismantling Ireland’s middle order.
Maheesh Theekshana also had a strong outing, taking 3-23. He dismissed Paul Stirling early for 6 and later picked up Ben Calitz and Gareth Delany in successive deliveries. Harry Tector scored 40 runs, and Ross Adair added 34, but no one could stay with them.
Ireland lost their last eight wickets for just 38 runs, collapsing to 143 all out in 19.5 overs. They couldn’t finish it. The pitch was definitely playing its part, turning more as the game went on.
Missed Opportunities and Lessons Learned
The message from the match was clear: “Catches win matches,” as noted by Sky Sports. Ireland dropped a staggering seven catches. This allowed Sri Lanka to add significant runs in the death overs, turning a decent total into a competitive one.
The difference of 20 runs at the end seems directly linked to those fielding lapses. You just can’t give good batsmen multiple chances in T20 cricket. And Ireland paid the price.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, showed grit. Their batsmen, particularly the Mendis duo, capitalized on the opposition’s mistakes. Hasaranga’s brave effort with the ball, despite his hamstring strain, was a major factor, proving his worth even when not fully fit.
The win gives Sri Lanka two important points in Group B. Ireland will need to regroup and work on their catching. They chose an extra batter in their lineup, leaving out Josh Little, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the costly errors and the turning conditions in Colombo.
They started well, but good starts don’t win games if you can’t finish them.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee 
Priyanjan Paul