SL vs IRE T20 World Cup Highlights: Theekshana, Hasaranga ensure Sri Lanka see off spirited Ireland in opener

Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker are looking well settled in the middle. They have stuck together a partnership that is making the balance tilt in their favour.

Sri Lanka's mainstay, Wanindu Hasaranga is no where close to his full fitness. But he has arrived at the bowling crease, fighting for his team. If he can get the wicket of Tector here that could really leave a long lasting impression.

Ireland are progressing silently towards the target. They need 86 runs off 54 deliveries. Tector is getting settled into his knock here. If he bats till the end, he can take them over.

Wanindu Hasaranga is back on the field. That is a big relief for the Sri Lankan management and fans. It will be interesting to see if he bowls.

So, that is the end of the 10th over. Ireland have found their way to 72/2. They need 92 runs from the next 10 overs. With eight wickets in hand, this looks possible. This game might be going down the wire.

The extent of that Hasaranga injury seems to be serious. He might not play any further part in this tournament. The Sri Lankan management will have to find a way to get the best of their resources not only in this game but also during the tournament.

He is practically bowling with one leg, but that does not stop him from getting wickets. Hasaranga deceives Ross Adair with a wrong one and brings back Sri Lanka into the game.

Wanindu Hasaranga seems to have pulled his hamstring while bowling his first ball of the spell. He got treated and is continuing his spell, but he does not look 100%. This could be a huge set back to Sri Lanka's chances in this match and going forward in the tournament.

Harry Tector has joined Ross Adair in the middle and the duo are looking to progress steadily. Ireland will look to rotate the strike and hit the occasional boundaries to keep up with the required rate.

IN THE AIR AND SIX!!!!!! WHAT A HIT!!!! Full delivery at the off and middle stump line. Adair goes down on one knee and plays the slog sweep over the mid-wicket region for a maximum. Adair is picking up rhythm here. That catch from Pathirana, that could hurt Sri Lanka.

Ross Adair looks to cut a ball from MaheeshTheekshana but gets it off the outside edge. The ball goes to Matheesha Pathirana at short third. He is slow to react to that and ends up parrying it over his head.

Maheesh Theekshana strikes and it is the big wicket for Paul Stirling. That is a big blow for Ireland. Full delivery at the middle and leg. Stirling goes down the track and ends up yorking himself. The ball sneaks underneath the bat and crashes onto the leg stump. The Ireland captain walks back to the hut.

Kusal Mendis fails to hold onto that edge. That was a huge chance and that too of the danger man Paul Stirling. Will Sri Lanka have to pay for this? Only time will give us the answer.

Dusmantha Chameera bowls an ideal over to start off for Sri Lanka. He hit right areas and did not allow the batters to get off the block easily. There was a boundary of the last ball, but the rest of the over was tidy. Sri Lanka will be looking for early wickets, especially the one of Paul Stirling. If the Irish captain finds his rhythm, it would be difficult for Sri Lanka to defend this total.

So, the first innings of this match comes to end. Kusal Mendis's steady knock and Kamindu Mendis's power ensured Sri Lanka went past the 160-mark. A target of 164 on this wicket with the bowling attack Sri Lanka have could be challenging.

A boundary and that is the half-century for Kusal Mendis. He has paced this innings brilliantly. This is 18th fifty in the format. Kusal Mendis has reached the landmark in 40 deliveries. Crucially he held the innings together when the Sri Lankan was going through severe stress test.

19 runs off that over, two wickets. A dot ball to end the over, so, Wanindu Hasaranga evades the hat-trick.

Well this is one heck of an over. No-ball, six, wides, 18 runs off first three balls and then two wickets of two consecutive balls. McCarthy is on a hat-trick here.

IN THE AIR AND TAKEN!!!! At last Ireland take a catch. Kamindu Mendis departs but not before playing a game changing knock of 44 runs off 19 deliveries. Sri Lanka will be aiming for 170 now and all that because of Kamindu.

Kusal Mendis held one end, but it is Kamindu Mendis who has created chaos in an otherwise well composed Irish bowling attack. 18 runs already off the three balls in the 19th over and that has boosted Sri Lanka's total over 150.

A no-ball and four off that. Kamindu Mendis makes full use of that. But Ireland are losing it in the death. Dropped chances, no-balls, poor bowling, they have done everything to bring Sri Lanka back into this game.

Kamindu Mendis has changed this game around for Sri Lanka. Since his arrival their scoring rate has increased and that last over signals a huge shift in momentum. 21 runs came off that over and Sri Lanka are on the way to get well over 150.

Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis are looking accelerate and that is leading to some big shots, mis-timings and some lapses in the field. It is chaos all round in this game at present.

So 16 overs have been bowled here. Time for the last four overs of the innings. The Mendis duo is out there and they would be looking to hit at least 13-14 runs per over from here on.

So, it is Kamindu Mendis who breaks the shackles. He goes for the reverse sweep and brings up a boundary for Sri Lanka after 57 balls. From here Sri Lanka will target 160 at the least.

It has been nine overs since the last boundary was hit. The Ireland bowlers have shown brilliant control has and have drained out the momentum completely from the Sri Lankan innings.

In the air and taken!!!! Dunith Wellalage departs now. The pressure was building. The urge to move on with the game and show some intention got the better of the left-handed batter there.

The Sri Lankan batters are finding it hard to time the ball. The boundaries have dried up and the Ireland spinners are showing great control here. Kusal Mendis and Dunith Wellalage need to find a way to get a move on quickly.

Kusal Mendis becomes vital for Sri Lanka from here on. He has the experience and the game to take the home team to a fighting total from the current position.

Another wicket for Dockrell here!!!! Rathnayake departs trying to play a cute shot. He misjudged the line and length of that delivery. Sri Lanka suddenly letting go of the momentum.

After a good start, Sri Lanka have seemingly slowed down. They had 50 runs on the board by the end of the sixth over. Since then, they have added just 18 runs to the total.

Nissanka goes!!!! That is a big blow for Sri Lanka. Ireland will be delighted with that wicket. Even though wickets have not come their way, they have not allowed Sri Lanka to accelerate. The pressure of increasing the scoring rate probable got the better of Nissanka there.

Nissanka and Mendis are ensuring that they make the most of the solid foundation. The two batters are looking to play percentage cricket in the middle overs, in a bid to put their team ahead in the most crucial phase of the game.

After that early loss of Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka have ensured that Sri Lanka steer through the powerplay without further damage. Kusal Mendis changed gears towards the end of the sixth over and ensured that the team 50 was up within the first six overs.

IN THE AIR AND SIX!!!!! Nissanka has had enough of a sighter now. Good length delivery at the off and middle stump. Nissanka goes down on one knee and plays the slog sweep over the square leg region for a maximum.

A clever change of pace does the trick for Mark Adair. Kamil Mishara was forced to commit to that shot early and that ultimately resulted in his demise. Sri Lanka lose their first wicket.

Good length delivery at the off and middle. Mishara swings across the line and hits in the air and straight into the hands of the man at short mid-wicket. The fielder there fails to hold on to that. At this level of cricket, those catches are expected to be taken.

Two boundaries in that over. The intent is there from the Sri Lankan openers. They will be looking to build on the momentum they have found in the first two overs of the innings.

Mark Adair with the second over. Pathum Nissanka gets the first boundary of the game of the first ball. It was a beautiful shot by the Sri Lankan opener.

Matthew Humphreys held his areas there. The Sri Lankan batters were careful to start. So, both teams are gauging each other here.