🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026:M 6: SL vs Ireland, Colombo 🏏 - Page 4

Pitch and conditions: Welcome to Colombo, the R. Premadasa Stadium, a venue that has staged some unforgettable games over the years and tonight promises to be another special one. It’s been a magnificent day here. The maximum temperature touched 32 earlier, but as evening sets in, it’s far more pleasant now. There’s a gentle breeze drifting across, around 10 to 11 kilometres per hour, just enough to keep things comfortable. The dimensions are interesting. Straight down the ground you’re looking at about 84 metres, square boundaries measure roughly 77 on one side and 71 on the other, while the shorter pockets are fine leg and third man, areas batters will certainly have in mind. This pitch can be misleading if you only look at the numbers. The stats might tell you that teams batting first haven’t always dominated here recently, but forget that, this is a belter. It’s dry, hard underneath, with a good covering of grass, about 3.5 millimetres rolled in. The ball will slide on nicely, allowing batters to hit through the line. Bounce, however, will be moderate and pace will be relative, typical Sri Lankan conditions. There will be a touch of spin, but more than anything, it’s about skill and execution. Arnold believes conditions won’t change much across the evening. Whether you bat first or second, it shouldn’t matter. The surface will stay true. It really comes down to how well you play. For me, 175 is a par score here tonight.

Talha Hameed: "What a captivating start to the T20 World Cup. Five matches in, and already the tournament has delivered edge-of-the-seat drama. Netherlands, Scotland, USA, Afghanistan, and Nepal all pushed their opponents to the brink, coming agonizingly close to memorable victories before narrowly falling short."

ShahSafeer: "The most dependable bowlers went for plenty while the ones who were not expected to play the major role to avoid perhaps the biggest embarrassment yet in their cricket history came out brilliantly admired heroes! Well done to Sam and Liam!"

RaMa: "Now cricket is truly becoming global sports Many countries not just playing but competing . Good for sport T20."

It is time for the toss. Shanaka and Stirling are out in the middle. Stirling calls and he calls correctly. Ireland will field first. Says the pitch looks slightly different to the last time they were here, but expects it to play well. Being at their best is their focus and they are ready to get things started tonight. Mentions they have picked the extra batter tonight and hopes that comes in handy.

Shanaka says it looks a very good track and thinks anything more than 170 will be very good on this pitch. Says they have worked on a lot of areas coming into this T20 World Cup. Five bowlers and five quality batters, he says about his team combination.

Mustafa Moudi: "Looking at the Current Performances of Sri Lanka and Australia, I feel this group is wide open for all the 5 Sides. At Least one of Sri Lanka and Australia might not make it to the next stage. I am most excited about this Group this time !!"

The players make their way out. A big cheer as Mishara and Nissanka step beyond the fence. Nissanka has been in proper firecracker t20 form lately, and SL could do with some of that tonight and throughout the comp. Looks like Ireland will continue with their tried-and-tested ploy of beginning with Humphreys. He has a very devilish arm-ball that keeps coming in like the next set of waves. Around the wicket, let's play!

Over 1

2 0 0 1 0 2 (5 runs)

SL 5-0

Kamil Mishara

2(2)

Pathum Nissanka

3(4)

Matthew Humphreys

1-0-5-0

STAT: Each of the last eight T20Is at Colombo RPS have been won by the chasing side; only once in these eight games has the team batting first scored 150+.

McCarthy to Kamil Mishara, 1 run, dropped at mid-wicket! That should have been taken. Kamil Mishara flicks this length delivery towards mid-wicket and Ross Adair stationed there dives to his left to grab it. Puts down a regulation chance and the opener gets another life. Ireland would hope that dropped catch doesn't cost much

W

Mark Adair to Kamil Mishara, out Caught by McCarthy!! Kamil Mishara c McCarthy b Mark Adair 14(11) [4s-2]

Mark Adair to Kamil Mishara, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Humphreys to Nissanka, SIX, that has gone the distance! Fraction short and Nissanka goes down on his knee to swipe this over deep square leg as the ball clears the boundary comfortably.

SL 42/1 after 5.2 overs

W

Dockrell to Pavan Rathnayake, out Bowled!! Pavan Rathnayake b Dockrell 5(9)

Dockrell to Pavan Rathnayake, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

The less experienced nations are not letting the more experienced nations get away, are they?

They are taking wickets at regular intervals (except during India match, where we lost wickets like 10 pins), building partnerships and milking 15 to 20 runs in a over here and a over there.

Cheers..