Sri Lanka vs Ireland Highlights T20 World Cup 2022: Kusal Mendis' unbeaten 68 helps SL beat IRE by 9 wickets

Harry Tector charges down the track against Chamika Karunaratne and connects it well. The ball races away for a four towards the long-off region. 

Eight runs come off the over as IRE move to 74/4 after 12 overs. | Chamika Karunaratne: 4-0-29-1

Dhananjaya de Silva concedes six runs in his second over as Ireland move to 66/4 after 11 overs.

Curtis Campher plays it straight to Asalanka as Ireland lose their 4th wicket. Chamika Karunaratne scalps his first from the contest. The bowler bangs it slightly short, forces the batter to play the cut shot, which he does. The ball then travels straight to the fielder positioned there. He departs for 2(4).

IRE: 60/4 (10 overs)

Just when things looked fine for Ireland, Bhanuka Rajapaksa completes a sharp catch to pack Paul Stirling on 34(25). Dhananjaya de Silva strikes in his first over. The batter makes some room, plays it towards the cover region but Rajapaksa covers a good amount of ground and completes the catch. 

Meanwhile, Ireland reach 57/3 after 9 overs.

Paul Stirling takes the aerial route against Chamika Karunaratne, but the ball doesn't go very far. Lahiru Kumara charges towards the ball, but fails to complete the routine catch. 

Meanwhile, Stirling and Harry Tector guide Ireland to 50/2 after 8 overs. 

Wanindu Hasaranga is introduced in the attack and he starts off with a six-run over. IRE reach 46/2 after 7 overs.

An expensive start by Chamika Karunaratne as Paul Stirling hits him for a boundary and a maximum. 

They accumulate 40 runs in the powerplay overs and lose two wickets.

Maheesh Theekshana strikes in his first over as Ireland lose their 2nd wicket in powerplay. Lorcan Tucker departs for 10(11). The batter moves slightly outside the off-stump, tries to play it behind the wickets, kind-off a sweep. However, the ball takes his gloves and knocks the stump on it's way. 

Meanwhile, a wicket and two runs come off the over. IRE: 26/2 (5 overs)

Sri Lanka introduce spin inside the powerplay. Maheesh Theekshana comes into the attack.

Paul Stirling ends the fourth over with a boundary. A goo shoot, just wide of the bowler's reach on his followthrough. Meanwhile, Ireland reach 24/1 after 4 overs.

A decent over from Ireland's perspective as 10 runs come off it. Ireland reach 18/1 after 3 overs.

Another brilliant over by Sri Lanka as six runs and a wicket come off it. IRE: 8/1 (2 overs)

Lahiru Kumara strikes in his first ball as Ireland lose skipper Andrew Balbirnie on 1(5). He shuffles across the crease and tries to play the ball behind the stumps, but fails to make a contact. The ball knocks and hits the middle stump.

A tidy start by Binura Fernando as just two runs come off the first over. 

Paul Stirling and captain Andrew Balbirnie walk out in the middle to kick-off the action. 

Binura Fernando leads the attack for Sri Lanka.

The players from both side enter the field for the pre-match rituals. The action will get underway shortly.

Ireland too boast of some powerful hitters in their XI. Paul Stirling, who has immense experience is one of them. Apart from him, the Lankan unit will also be Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker.  

The players to watch out from the Lankan camp are: 

Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Ashen Bandara, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Lorcan Tucker(w), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little

Ireland have won the toss, and they will bat first.

Ireland and Sri Lanka have met twice in the shorter format and it has been the Asian champions, who have dominated the proceedings. The two wins came in the year 2009 and 2021.

The Lankan fans will have their eyes fixed on Pathum Nissanka, who availability remains a concern. However, skipper Dasun Shanaka has been optimistic about him taking part in the clash.

This is the first time, Ireland have progressed to the second stage of the T20 World Cup since 2009. 

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, head into the tournament after stunning heavyweights India and Pakistan at the Asia Cup 2022. In fact they have won 7 of their last 8 T20Is. 

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Ashen Bandara, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay

Ireland: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie(c), Lorcan Tucker(w), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little, Graham Hume, Fionn Hand, Conor Olphert, Stephen Doheny

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the Group 2 match of the Super 12 stage of 2022 T20 World Cup between former champion Sri Lanka and Ireland in Hobart. Stay tuned for more updates!