In a thrilling match in Dublin, Sri Lanka emerged victorious against Ireland by chasing down a target of 146 with 20 balls to spare. The star of the show was Harshitha Samarawickrama, whose blistering knock of 86 off just 45 balls anchored Sri Lanka’s successful chase.
The Sri Lankan opener’s innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, as she smashed 15 fours and a six to guide her team to victory. Her partnership with Vishmi Gunaratne, who scored a valuable 30 off 34 balls, laid the foundation for the run chase.
Despite a competitive total of 145 for 6 posted by Ireland, thanks to contributions from Gaby Lewis, Oria Prendergast, Laura Delany, and Rebecca Stokell, it proved to be insufficient against a confident Sri Lankan side. Prendergast and Lewis set the platform with a solid 59-run stand for the second wicket, but the bowlers failed to defend the total in the face of Samarawickrama’s onslaught.
Sri Lanka’s victory without their star player, Chamari Athapaththu, who is currently playing in The Hundred, is a testament to the team’s depth and resilience. Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 86 is now the fourth-highest score by a Sri Lankan batter in T20Is, and the highest by anyone other than Athapaththu.
The bowling efforts of Udeshika Prabhodani, Sugandika Kumari, and Inoshi Priyadharshani also played a crucial role in restricting Ireland’s scoring. Priyadharshani was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 35, while the rest of the attack supported her well.
Despite efforts from Freya Sargent, Arlene Kelly, and Delany with the ball, Ireland failed to contain Samarawickrama’s onslaught. The Sri Lankan opener’s heroics ensured a comfortable victory for her team in the first T20I of the series, setting the stage for an enthralling contest in the remaining matches.
