The experienced Sri Lankan spinner now has the most number of wickets in the prestigious tournament. Only Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is in front of him.
Sri Lanka’s easy victory over Ireland
As co-hosts of this year’s T20 World Cup, the island is among the favorites to qualify for the semi-finals. However, to get a ticket for the round of four, they will have to cross a long road. The match against Ireland has seen them start their campaign strongly.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Ireland did their best to challenge Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Ireland even bowled well at the home of the Sri Lanka national cricket team. Ireland’s cricketers are not used to the subcontinental conditions, yet their bowlers did a significant job in restricting Sri Lanka to 163. To claim the respective total, the island nation had to lose six of their batters.
Sri Lanka vs Ireland T20 World Cup 2026 Match Summary
While Kusal Mendis was the most successful batsman for Sri Lanka by scoring an unbeaten 56, Kamindu Mendis backed him well at the end of the innings with a storming 44-run knock off 19 balls. Until Kamindu’s attacking batting, the Irish bowlers looked at the top of their game. Barry McCarthy and George Dockrell each claimed a brace for Ireland.
Ireland’s batting was quite ordinary. In another way it can be said that the Sri Lankan bowlers did not let them bat freely. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana made very good use of the surface. The spinner duo took a total of 6 wickets between them. With the match-winning spell of 3 wickets, Hasaranga renewed the record.
Against Sri Lanka’s 163, Ireland managed just 143 runs in return for all ten wickets. Sri Lanka in their first match of the 2026 T20 World Cup by 20 runs.
Record for Wanindu Hasaranga
Hasaranga took the scalps of opener Ross Adair, Ireland’s number three batsman Harry Tector, and middle order batsman Curtis Campher. The Lankan spinner struck thrice during his four-over spell at an economy rate of 6.25. Wanindu Hasaranga has 40 wickets, the second most by an individual in the T20 World Cup. The 28-year-old also surpassed Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga in the record number.
Most wickets in T20 World Cup history:
50-Shakib Al Hassan
40- Wanindu Hasaranga *
39-Shahid Afridi
38-Lasith Malinga/Rashid Khan
Sri Lanka will play their next match on February 12 against Oman before taking on Australia and Zimbabwe at the same time.
Read more: Team India at Gautam Gambhir’s house ahead of their next T20 World Cup 2026 matches, watch video
#Wanindu #Hasaranga #highest #wickettaker #Sri #Lanka #T20 #World #Cup