Sri Lankans end gallant Irish charge
MUCH-FANCIED Sri Lanka took another leap towards the World Twenty20 semi-finals but were given the fright of their lives by plucky Ireland at Lord’s.
The Irish were thrashed by 83 runs by New Zealand on Friday and many believed the in-form Sri Lankans would inflict similar damage.
But seamer Alex Cusack returned excellent figures of 4-18 to restrict Sri Lanka to just 144-9 from their 20 overs, despite a fantastic 78no from Mahela Jayawardene.
Will Porterfield and Niall O’Brien then put on 59 for the first wicket to really put the skids up the Sri Lankans, but two wickets apiece from pace man Lasith Malinga (2-19) and unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis (2-22) limited the Irish to 135-7 – nine runs short.
The result sees Kumar Sangakkara’s men top the Group F table, but Ireland’s brave race is run.
They do, however, still have a major say in the semi-final line-up as they take on Pakistan in their final match at The Oval today – a match which could determine who plays the winner of today’s England v West Indies clash in the last four.
Sri Lanka take on New Zealand in the deciding match tomorrow.