Sri Lanka secured qualification to the Super 6s with a solid 106-run win over Ireland yesterday.
Fresh off a terrific batting effort against Japan in the first game, the Lankans had no hesitation opting to bat first after winning the toss against Ireland.
Dimantha Mahavithana and Viran Chamuditha could not replicate their heroics against Japan on Monday as Ireland’s Reuben Wilson and Oliver Riley sent the openers packing within the first four overs with Sri Lanka’s score still at 12.
Dulnith Sigera was also dismissed for just 22 as Sri Lanka were struggling at 59/3.
Captain Vimath Dinsara then took matters in his own hands, pairing up with Kavija Gamage to launch a Sri Lankan counter-attack. The pair slowly paced their respective innings to stitch a 80-run stand that put the team back on track.
Gamage’s dismissal brought Chamika Heenatigala to the crease who swiftly got going along with Dinsara to take the score past the 200-mark.
Their 100-run partnership came to an end when Dinsara fell off Riley’s bowling just five short of a hundred. But he had done his job to give Sri Lanka the platform to post a good total on board.
Heenatigala completed his half century to take Sri Lanka to 267/5 in his 50 overs.
Callum Armstrong started brightly with the bat for Ireland at the top of the order but kept on losing his partners at the other end as the Irish innings never got going.
Sigera and Rasith Nimsara led the charge with the ball for the Lankans picking up seven wickets between them.
Riley and Wilson added runs lower down the order but could not prevent Sri Lanka from recording a big win as the Ireland innings folded for 161 in 40.1 overs.
Sri Lanka finish their group matches against Australia on Friday while Ireland face Japan on Thursday.