Kusal, Kamindu Rescue Sri Lanka with Late Surge to 163/6 Against Ireland

Colombo, Feb 2026 : Wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis produced a calm, unbeaten half-century under pressure as Sri Lanka recovered from a mid-innings slump to post an above-par 163 for 6 against Ireland in a Group B clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday.

Asked to bat first, the co-hosts appeared on course for a modest total when they slipped to 87 for 4 after 14 overs, strangled by Ireland’s disciplined spin attack through the middle phase. However, a blistering 67-run partnership off just 29 balls between Kusal Mendis (56* off 43) and Kamindu Mendis (44 off 19) transformed the innings and swung momentum decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour.

The contrast between phases told the story of Sri Lanka’s innings. They began steadily, reaching 50 for 1 in the powerplay, but then endured a barren stretch where only 45 runs were scored between overs 7 and 15 without a single boundary. Ireland’s spinners bowled tight lines, extracted grip from the surface, and forced the batters into risk-averse accumulation. George Dockrell and Gareth Delany led the choke, while Matthew Humphreys maintained control from one end.

Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara set the platform with three boundaries early on, but Mishara perished in the fourth over, mistiming Mark Adair to mid-off. Nissanka looked fluent, launching Humphreys for a clean six, before Dockrell induced a false shot to cover to dismiss him for 24. With Pavan Rathnayake bowled by Dockrell and Dunith Wellalage holing out to long-on off Delany, Sri Lanka found themselves stuck, the run rate dipping alarmingly.

Kusal Mendis, though, held firm throughout the turbulence, rotating strike and preserving wickets. The turning point arrived when Kamindu Mendis walked in and immediately changed the tempo. He snapped a 57-ball boundary drought with a daring reverse sweep for four, injecting belief into the innings and energising the Colombo crowd. From there, the duo launched a calculated assault.

Ireland’s plans unraveled at the death. Dropped catches and loose deliveries proved costly as Sri Lanka plundered 60 runs in the last four overs. Humphreys and Barry McCarthy leaked 21 and 19 runs respectively, allowing Kamindu to cash in with clean strikes down the ground and inventive sweeps. Although Kamindu and skipper Dasun Shanaka fell in quick succession, the damage was done.

Kusal brought up his fifty with authority and batted through the innings, finishing with five boundaries in a knock defined by composure and timing. His anchoring role ensured Sri Lanka capitalised on the late surge to push past 160—a total that looked unlikely for much of the middle overs.

For Ireland, Dockrell stood out with the ball, but the inability to close out the innings undid their excellent work earlier. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will draw confidence from the recovery and the depth shown at the back end as they look to build momentum in the tournament.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 163/6 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 56*; Kamindu Mendis 44; George Dockrell 2-17, Barry McCarthy 2-40) vs Ireland.

Team Maverick.