Final result
Sri Lanka won by 20 runs
Player of the match: PHKD Mendis
Result · T20 Internationals
Sri Lanka vs Ireland Cricket
Result · T20 Internationals
Venue par · 189Chase success · 48%POTM · PHKD Mendis
Match preview & overview
Sri Lanka complete 10th successive win over Ireland with 20-run victory in Colombo
Sri Lanka Cricket beat Ireland Cricket by 20 runs in a T20I at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 8 February 2026. Batting first after Ireland won the toss and chose to field, Sri Lanka made 163/6 from their 20 overs. Ireland's reply never quite got there: a solid middle-overs phase of 68 runs was undone by a late collapse of 7 wickets for just 30 runs, and they were bowled out for 143. PHKD Mendis was named Player of the Match. The result extends Sri Lanka's unbeaten head-to-head record against Ireland to 10 wins from 10 meetings.
Ireland had given themselves a chance at the midway point. Their powerplay yielded 45 runs for 1 wicket, roughly in line with the venue average of 46, and they accumulated steadily through the middle phase. But the death overs proved too much. Sri Lanka's 68-run final phase had set a demanding finish, and Ireland simply couldn't replicate it.
Pitch report & venue insights
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo — 176-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2005–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
176
T20 matches hosted
189
Avg 1st-innings score
161
Avg 2nd-innings score
48%
Chase success rate
45
Avg powerplay runs
34%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Perfect head-to-head record extended to 10 from 10
Sri Lanka have now beaten Ireland in every single meeting across all formats, winning all 10 encounters. Ireland have yet to take a point off them in any match the two sides have played, a record that stretches back to 2021.
Angle 02
Death overs decided the match for Sri Lanka
Angle 03
Ireland's middle overs couldn't sustain the chase
Angle 04
PHKD Mendis named Player of the Match
Angle 05
Venue average first-innings score exceeded slightly
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets may warrant closer attention than outright result lines given Sri Lanka's deep batting order and the Premadasa's historically high first-innings scoring environment.
- Death-overs performance is worth examining in any markets covering phase-specific runs: Sri Lanka's 68 runs from the final phase and Ireland's collapse to 30 runs for 7 wickets underlines how sharply match momentum can shift in the closing overs at this venue.
- Given Ireland's tendency to keep pace in powerplay and middle phases before fading late, in-play markets around the chase may move significantly once the death overs arrive.
- Player of the Match markets could be interesting in fixtures at the Premadasa, where a single bowling performance has historically been enough to swing a match, as de Silva's ODI figures at this ground demonstrate.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Sri Lanka vs Ireland Cricket
Who won the Sri Lanka vs Ireland T20I on 8 February 2026?
Sri Lanka Cricket won the match by 20 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. They posted 163/6 batting first and bowled Ireland out for 143.
Who won the toss in the Sri Lanka vs Ireland T20I?
Ireland Cricket won the toss and chose to field first. Sri Lanka batted and made 163/6, then bowled Ireland out for 143 in the second innings.
Who was Player of the Match in Sri Lanka vs Ireland T20I 2026?
PHKD Mendis was named Player of the Match for his contribution in the T20I on 8 February 2026 in Colombo.
What is Sri Lanka's head-to-head record against Ireland?
Sri Lanka have won all 10 of their meetings with Ireland across all formats. Ireland are yet to record a win in any of those encounters, with Sri Lanka's victories spanning fixtures from 2021 through to 2026.
Where to watch Sri Lanka vs Ireland cricket in the UK?
T20 internationals involving Sri Lanka are typically broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket in the United Kingdom, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. Check Sky Sports schedules for specific start times in British Summer Time or Greenwich Mean Time.
What is the average score at R. Premadasa Stadium in T20 cricket?
Across 176 T20 matches at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the average first-innings score is 189 and the average second-innings score is 161. Teams batting first win approximately 52 per cent of the time, with chasers succeeding in 48 per cent of matches.
Photo credits (3)
- Wanindu Hasaranga — photo by 04 ATM 04, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Angelo Mathews — photo by paddynapper, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Kumar Sangakkara — photo by Sangakkara.jpg: TonyPatterson derivative work: Chamal N (talk), CC BY 2.0 · source