Twenty20 World Championship 2009

ICC T20 WC Super 8: Sri Lanka beat Ireland

Mahela Jayawardene scored a sublime half-century and Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga shared four wickets as Sri Lanka fought off a brave challenge from Ireland to win by nine runs at Lord’s.

Mahela JayawardeneJayawardene (right) stroked 78 in 53 balls with ten fours and a six to rescue Sri Lanka after they slipped to 14 for two early on with Boyd Rankin (2-27) and Trent Johnson (1-18) striking early blows. Sanath Jayasuriya made 27 but Angelo Mathews (10) was the only other player to reach double figures as Ireland bowled and fielded well to restrict Sri Lanka to a below-par score.

And when William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien were batting, putting on 59 for the first wicket, Ireland were putting severe pressure on the Sri Lankans, but a recurrence of O’Brien’s ankle injury slowed them and both men were dismissed for 31, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mendis doing the damage.

Andrew White batted nicely to make 22 but the cheap dismissal of Kevin O’Brien (0) put Sri Lanka back in charge before Malinga all but sealed the deal with two wickets in two balls to bowl Johnston and Andre Botha. However, John Mooney smacked 30 in 20 balls to give Ireland hope, but even his fine efforts were too little too late.

Tags: icc, Ireland, sri lanka, t20 world cup