Andrew Balbirnie: “We would have probably liked a few more inroads early on. We fought back well and kept them down to a score we thought we could have a crack on but we did not bat well and did not start well. We knew it was a pretty good pitch, we knew they had good spinners and they bowled well and cleaned us up. Hugely disappointing not to get to the super sixes but you got to move on. We are going to pick ourselves up quickly, whenever you play for Ireland there’s a lot of pride regardless of the situation and that’s what we got to play for in the next game.”
Dasun Shanaka: “Everything goes in the right direction, but we could have done better with the bat towards the end. Probably big hitting from myself and Wanindu did not come off in the last two matches. I have to stand up in these situations. We need to have a look at both options…we need to take a look at the bench and also take maximum points into the next round. Chameera is going to be key in the next round. We are very confident and are playing (according) to the conditions. We need to do well whatever the conditions here going forward.”
Dimuth Karunaratne, Player of the Match:
“If I get a start, I want to go for the big one. In the morning, there was something for the bowlers, but when the swing stops we can get some boundaries. I was waiting for that, the first hour was about giving the bowlers respect. I try to apply the same technique, that is what has helped me score heavily in Test cricket…don’t try to hit them hard, just time them well.”
Sri Lanka vs Ireland Highlights today, Sunday 25-6-2023. 15th Match, Group B, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.
Toss: Ireland chose to field.
Sri Lanka team: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis †, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara.
Ireland team: Andy McBrine, Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie (c), Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker †, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little.
Head to Head In ODI’s: 4
Sri Lanka Won: 4
Ireland Won: 0
Sri Lanka ODI Rankings: 9th
Ireland ODI Rankings: 12th
Form guide
(last five completed ODI’s, most recent first)
Sri Lanka WWWWL
Ireland LLLLL
Match Timings: 7:00 AM GMT | 9:00 AM Local
Umpires – Gregory Brathwaite, Wayne Knights
TV Umpire – Langton Rusere
Match Referee – Shaid Wadvalla
Reserve Umpire – Aleem Dar
Match number – ODI no. 4599
