Butterfingers in Colombo: Seven dropped catches cost Ireland dearly as Sri Lanka prevails
They say catches win matches, and at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday night, Ireland learned that lesson in the most painful way possible. Despite a mid-innings spin web that left the co-hosts struggling to catch up, Ireland dropped seven catches, allowing Sri Lanka to escape with a 20-run victory in their Group B opener of the T20 World Cup 2026.
The escape: From 104/4 to 163/6
For 16 overs, Ireland was the dominant force. Their spinners, George Dockrell (1/17) and Gareth Delany, paralyzed the Sri Lankan middle order, preventing a single boundary for 56 consecutive balls.
However, the wheels fell off in a chaotic final four overs where Ireland conceded 59 runs:
Kusal Mendis (56*) was dropped on 34, while Kamindu Mendis was handed a life on 14.
Barry McCarthy bowled a disastrous 11-ball 19th over; the joint-longest in T20 World Cup history, featuring beamers and free hits that Kamindu ruthlessly dispatched.
Dropped for the previous home series, Kamindu justified his late inclusion in the squad by injecting 44 runs in just 19 deliveries, single-handedly shifting the momentum.
Hasaranga’s "one-legged" wizardry
Ireland’s chase of 164 started promisingly, but the match turned on a dramatic injury scare. Wanindu Hasaranga pulled his hamstring after just two balls and looked certain to leave the field. Instead, he stayed on, bowling with virtually no follow-through or zip.
Despite the injury, Hasaranga’s guile was too much for the Irish:
He finished with 3/25, castling Ross Adair just as the chase was heating up.
Alongside Maheesh Theekshana (3/23), the duo triggered a collapse that saw Ireland lose their last six wickets in just 29 deliveries.
Ireland was eventually bundled out for 143 in the final over.
Match statistics: Sri Lanka vs. Ireland
A struggle for stability
The loss depicts the widening gap for Ireland, who have struggled with consistency after the cancellation of several high-profile fixtures last year for financial reasons. While they have spent months "camping" in the subcontinent to acclimatize, their lack of clinical execution under pressure was the deciding factor.
