Mendis Brothers Rescue Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup Opener Against Ireland

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka battled through a middling start to post 163/6 against Ireland in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Despite a mid-innings struggle that saw the Lankans go nearly 10 overs without a boundary, Kusal Mendis (56*) and Kamindu Mendis (44) combined in a game-changing 67-run partnership to rescue the hosts.

Mendis Brothers Turn the Tide

After being asked to bat, Sri Lanka started brightly in the Powerplay with Pathum Nissanka (24) and Kamil Mishara (14) finding early boundaries. But Ireland’s spin duo, George Dockrell and Gareth Delany, tightened the screws, leaving Sri Lanka stranded at 57 balls without a boundary. Dockrell finished with tidy figures of 2/17, frustrating the home side.

The breakthrough came in the 17th over when Kamindu Mendis smashed 44 from just 19 balls, including two towering sixes and four crisp boundaries. Kusal Mendis anchored the innings, navigating the tricky middle overs and reaching a composed 56 not out, ensuring Sri Lanka set a challenging total of 163/6.

Ireland’s Missed Opportunities

Ireland’s disciplined bowling was undermined by sloppy fielding, with five dropped catches including crucial misses off the Mendis brothers. Barry McCarthy (2/40) and Mark Adair (1/33) bore the brunt of these lapses, conceding 38 runs in the final three overs, allowing Sri Lanka to finish strongly.

Ireland now faces a steep chase of 164 in Group B against a spin-heavy Sri Lankan attack led by Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. The visitors will need precision and composure if they hope to upset the hosts.