In a tournament where clinical precision is the gold standard, Pawan Rathnayakeat the time of dismissal Sri Lankaof T20 World Cup 2026 The clash with Ireland on 8 February 2026 drew heavy criticism. Rathnayake, who chased the momentum in the sluggish middle stages at the R. Premadasa Stadium, fell victim to what many called a moment of tactical madness.
A careless shot turned Pawan Rathnayake’s wicket in Ireland’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Sri Lanka.
The defining moment of Rathnayake’s short stay came in the first ball of the 11th over (10.1). Irish left arm spinner to face George Dockrell With Sri Lanka struggling to pick up pace at 68/2, Rathnayake attempted a brave drop shot against a delivery that required a straighter bat. Dropping to one knee too quickly, he looked to direct the ball to third man, but his lack of footwork and poor execution was exposed as the ball slid low.
Trying to be overly creative, he was torn between an inside-out drive, a late cut and a possible ramp; the result was a complete loss of form as the ball held its line and crashed into the stumps. Conferring just 5 runs from 9 balls, Rathnayake batted cleanly with a disappointing single-figure score, leaving Sri Lanka at 68/3 and effectively ending any hopes of a quick acceleration during the middle overs.
This brain dead moment was particularly frustrating for the Colombo crowd as it was just starting to settle in, but instead his departure forced Dunith Wellalage to crease much sooner than planned and put the onus back on the senior batsmen to repair the damage.
We present the video:
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— Aman (@Amanriz78249871) February 8, 2026
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T20 World Cup 2026: Ireland’s spin trap stifles Sri Lanka in Colombo
Rathnayake’s dismissal was the centerpiece of a masterful display of bowling by Dockrell, who dismantled the Sri Lankan top order with surgical precision. Dockrell’s magic was anything but elite as he had already claimed her vitals. Pathum Nissanka (24) just before. Ireland’s spinners capitalized on a surface that offered significant grip and low bounce, making it almost impossible for the Sri Lankan batsmen to turn the strike or find the boundary.
However, the latter stages of the innings saw a dramatic change in momentum. Despite being drowned in runs for most of the middle overs, Kamindu Mendis staged a sensational counter-attack, smashing 44 off just 19 balls. Next to it Kusal Mandys, anchored the innings with a gritty 56, the pair used sloppy Irish fielding, including two falls, hammering 21 runs off the 17th. This jailbreak allowed Sri Lanka to recover from a deep 86/4 to a more competitive 163/6 at the end of 20 overs. Despite Ireland’s disciplined approach, Dockrell (2/17) and Gareth Delaneya late surge from the Mendis duo dictating the middles set up a thrilling second innings chase in Colombo.
