Wanindu Hasaranga becomes the second-highest wicket-taker in World Cup history as Ireland crumbles in Colombo.
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Wanindu Hasaranga Trails
For fifteen overs in Colombo, the script was written in Irish green. Ireland sat comfortably at 105/2, needing less than a run-a-ball to silence the R. Premadasa Stadium and humiliate the co-hosts. Then, the trap snapped shut.
In a sport often defined by its explosive starts, Sri Lanka’s victory was a masterclass in the slow burn. By the time the dust settled, Ireland hadn’t just lost; they had authored one of the most spectacular collapses in the history of the T20 World Cup.
The Rise of the New King: Wanindu Hasaranga
The headline of the night wasn’t just the win, but the man who orchestrated it. Wanindu Hasaranga has officially entered the pantheon of World Cup greats. By claiming three wickets for 25 runs, he reached a career milestone of 40 wickets in this tournament.
He now sits as the second-most successful bowler in T20 World Cup history, trailing only the legendary Shakib Al Hasan (50 wickets). While Shakib remains the gold standard, Hasaranga’s trajectory suggests the crown is within reach.
Alongside Maheesh Theekshana, the “Spin Twins” combined for six wickets, proving that in Sri Lanka, the ball doesn’t need to be fast to be lethal.
The 8-for-38 Nightmare
Ireland’s batting card looks like a horror story in two parts. Part one was a steady, calculated chase led by Harry Tector. Part two was a frantic, disorganized retreat.
- The Collapse: Ireland lost their final 8 wickets for just 38 runs.
- Historical Context: This stands as the second-worst batting collapse ever recorded in a T20 World Cup.
- The Catalyst: The moment Lorcan Tucker and Harry Tector fell, the Irish lower order looked completely illiterate against the turning ball.
A Record-Breaking Spin Marathon
This wasn’t a standard T20 match; it was an exhibition of slow-bowling dominance. Spinners from both sides combined to bowl a staggering 25 overs. This is only the fourth time in the history of the competition that a completed match has relied so heavily on the slow bowlers.
The strategy was clear: the pitch offered a grip that made pace bowling a liability. However, this reliance led to technical discipline issues.
Barry McCarthy found himself stuck in a loop during the 19th over, bowling 11 deliveries—including a barrage of extras—to complete his set. It was a physical manifestation of the pressure Sri Lanka’s batters and conditions exerted on the Irish attack.
The Trap of the “Anchor”
Critics will praise Kusal Mendis for his unbeaten 56 in his 101st match, calling it a classic anchor innings. But the real lesson here is for the chasing side. Ireland’s “set” batters, Tector and Tucker, tried to play the long game on a pitch that was actively deteriorating.
The counter-intuitive truth?
On a crumbling Colombo deck, you cannot “set yourself for the final assault.” You must score while the ball is still relatively new and the hardness allows for boundaries. By waiting for the death overs, Ireland walked straight into Hasaranga’s web.
Key Statistical Takeaways:
- Hasaranga’s 40: Now second only to Shakib Al Hasan.
- The 11-Ball Over: Barry McCarthy joins a small, unenviable club of bowlers who couldn’t find their mark.
- Spin Dominance: 25 overs of spin dictated the rhythm of the entire game.