Sri Lanka kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a clinical 20-run win over Ireland, powered by a resilient half-century from Kusal Mendis and a blistering cameo from Kamindu Mendis, while their spinners dismantled the Irish batting line-up."
All-rounder Dasun Shanaka will lead a strong Sri Lankan side for the T20 World Cup, featuring key players including Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka.
For the Dutch, opener Max O'Dowd came up with a valiant 71 not out from 53 balls (6x4, 3x6) but he lacked the final flourish, with hardly any support from the middle and lower order batters.
Sri Lanka overcame Jamie Overton's late assault to beat England by 19 runs in the opening one-day international in Colombo on Thursday.
Sri Lanka posted a massive total against minnows Oman in their Group B T20 World Cup clash in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, on Thursday.
Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on 166 and combined in a fourth-wicket partnership of 196 with Asela Gunaratne to put Sri Lanka on course for a big first innings total against Bangladesh on the first day of the opening Test at Galle on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka beat Australia by eight wickets in a Group B match to qualify for the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup in Pallekele.
Sri Lanka will need to address batting inconsistencies and adjust their bowling strategy in the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga as they prepare to face Oman in a crucial T20 World Cup Group B match.
The International Cricket Council has confirmed pacer Pramod Madushan as the replacement for Sri Lanka quick Eshan Malinga, who was ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup on home soil after dislocating his shoulder against England last week.
Sri Lanka didn't have the best of preparations for the T20 showpiece as they were whitewashed 0-3 by England in a home T20 series. Ireland will be led by veteran Paul Stirling and feature key players like Harry Tector and Josh Little.
Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in T20 World Cup match to top Group B in Colombo
Sri Lanka defeated Australia in a T20 World Cup match, with Pathum Nissanka scoring a century. Sri Lanka has qualified for the Super Eights.
Kamindu's cameo was the turning point of match: SL skipper Shanaka
England spinners seal Sri Lanka series sweep ahead of T20 World Cup
Pathum Nissanka's 52-ball hundred was the first century of this year's T20 World Cup and it could not have come at a better time for Sri Lanka.
Steve Smith becomes the most expensive player in Pakistan Super League history after being signed by Sialkot Stallions for PKR 14 crore.
Injury-hit Australia are considering including veteran Steve Smith to strengthen their batting line-up for the crucial T20 World Cup Group B match against Sri Lanka. Australia needs to win to secure a spot in the Super Eights after a defeat to Zimbabwe.
Kusal Mendis' battling half-century salvaged a difficult day one for Sri Lanka as they reached 229/9 in the second Test.
Tom Banton and captain Harry Brook guided England to a thrilling win against Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I to claim the series in Kandy.
This is Sri Lanka's biggest victory over Australia in ODIs in terms of runs.
Joe Root's all-round performance has helped England defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
Sam Curran claimed a hat-trick as England beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in their rain-marred opening Twenty20 International in Pallekele on Friday.
Sri Lanka show exit door to Afghanistan, qualify for Super 4s alongside Bangladesh
Pathum Nissanka's journey from a tsunami-hit childhood in Kalutara to a match-winning T20 World Cup century is a story of sacrifice, faith and fearless batting against Australia.
Chameera ripped through Pakistan's top order with three wickets for three runs in the powerplay, removing Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam for a two-ball duck and Fakhar Zaman to leave the hosts reeling at 43-4.
Opener Pathum Nissanka struck 68 as Sri Lanka beat Hong Kong by four wickets in their Asia Cup match in Dubai on Monday.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title. The 10th edition of the 20-overs global showpiece event will run from February 7 to March 8.
In all the three group matches, Sri Lanka thrived while chasing and one would expect the Islanders to continue the same trend if they win the toss on Saturday.
Bangladesh pulled off a thrilling four-wicket win against Sri Lanka, chasing 169 with just one ball to spare in Dubai on Saturday.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in familiar home conditions next month.
Afghanistan will need to play with more flair and freedom in their must-win Asia Cup group match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Sri Lanka will look to build on their perfect start in Asia Cup when they take on a struggling Hong Kong in Dubai on Monday.
The mystery spinner even has a YouTube channel dedicated to football discussions.
The islanders, led by Charith Asalanka, have quietly built a formidable unit combining top-order solidity with middle-order power and a spin attack tailor-made for UAE conditions.
His effort along with Sadeera Samarawickrama's (108 off 89 balls) maiden ODI ton saw Sri Lanka post a massive 344 for nine in their 50 overs.
India and Bangladesh have two points each with Suryakumar Yadav's men leading the standings owing to a superior net run rate. Sri Lanka and Pakistan occupy the third and fourth spots respectively.
Along with Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana among spin bowling options.
This was Nissanka's 17th fifty-plus score in T20Is and he has now leapfrogged Kusal Mendis (16) and Kusal Perera (15) to have the most fifty-plus scores in the format for Sri Lanka.
T20 World Cups have seen some explosive batting, with a few players etching their names in history by scoring centuries. Here's a look at T20 World Cup centurions over the years.
'I am really pleased with the performance. Almost a perfect game for us. The pacers did the job (but) only the last over went wrong for us.'
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