Sri Lanka give Ireland another thrashing in Malahide
IRELAND remain on a steep learning curve in oneday international cricket as Sri Lanka completed a convincing 2-0 series victory at Malahide yesterday.
Following their 76-run win in the first game on Thursday, yesterday’s performance by the tourists was even more emphatic, the 136-run margin Ireland’s biggest home defeat in an ODI.
Put into bat, Sri Lanka amassed 377 for eight, the highest total in an ODI in Ireland, and when Ireland lost William Porterfield, Paul Stirling and Ed Joyce inside 11 overs, with just 41 on the board, any slim hope of the Irish putting up a fight had ended.
John Anderson showed the county professionals how to do it with six boundaries in his 34 and Stuart Poynter with a more patient 36 posted his highest ODI score. But the highlight for Ireland was the batting of Andy McBrine, left out of the first game along with George Dockrell.
The Donemana allrounder hit 79 off 64 balls with seven fours and two sixes – his first half century in Ireland colours – and it is likely to be his last game batting at No 8. Boyd Rankin was not out for the fifth successive innings and their stand of 54 was a 10th wicket best for Ireland in ODIs.
The bowlers, however, again found it tough with Barry McCarthy, in only his second game, the pick of the sextet, finishing with two for 52. But Rankin conceded 86 runs in his 10 overs – the most expensive in an ODI in Ireland.
An opening stand of 147 between Kusal Perera and Dhanuska Gunathilaka (63) allowed Sri Lanka to send in a pinch hitter at No 3 and Seekuge Prasanna performed the role to perfection with 95 from 46 balls including nine sixes. He took the visitors to 308 for two in only the 42nd over and there was no way back for Ireland from that.
Perera made a fabulous 135 before becoming one of three victims for Tim Murtagh, though his 10 overs went for 66 runs.