Kusal Mendis scored an unbeaten 68 off 43 balls as Sri Lanka defeated Ireland by 9 wickets in the Super 12 encounter of the T20 World Cup in Hobart on Sunday. Mendis, who walked out to open the innings with Dhananjaya Silva, stitched 63 runs for the opening wicket. Silva was the only Lankan batter to be dismissed as he was caught-behind on 31. Mendis then stitched another 50-plus stand with Charith Asalanka as Sri Lanka completed the 129-run chase in 15 overs. Earlier a clinical effort by the Lanka bowlers helped them restrict Ireland for 128/8 in 20 overs, after they opted to bat first. Barring Harry Tector and Paul Stirling none of the Ireland batters were able to resist the Lankan attack. Tector scored 45 off 42 balls, while Stirling scored 34 off 25 deliveries. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga scalped two wickets each in their four-over quota.
Source – Hindustan Times
