Ireland savaged by Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka were already qualified for the semi finals. Ireland had punched above their weight but were resigned to going home after this game. That meant that today’s Super Eight game could have been a dull, meaningless encounter not worthy of being a World Cup match. Sri Lanka had other ideas, using the fixture to signal their intent to the other semi finalists.

The 1996 champions spared no mercy, bowling the Irish out for 77 and knocking the runs off in just 10 overs. The damage with the ball was done Farveez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan, who claimed four wickets each, whilat a quickfire 39 from captain Mahela Jayawardene saw his side home.

It is perhaps harsh on Ireland, who have battled bravely throughout the tournament, to bow out of the tournament with such a result. The side recorded brilliant victories over Test nations Pakistan and Bangladesh and battled bravely throughout the Super Eights, despite being obviously out of their depth. However, the fact is that, after being put into bat by Jayawardene, the Associate nation failed to show any of the application with the bat that they have done previously, and succumbed to superior opposition.

Left-handed opener Jeremy Bray showed intent early on in the innings, striking all of Ireland’s first four boundaries on his way to 20 off 29. Two of those fours came in the opening balls of Maharoof’s first over. The first ball was too straight and clipped away through the leg side. The second too wide and dispatched through the covers. Maharoof won this particular battle, though. His next ball was a slower delivery that was too good for the Australian-born batsman, who presented a chance which was taken by Russel Arnold.

In Andre Botha, another pseudo-Irishman replaced Bray at the crease. His luck against Maharoof was no better, playing away from his body and edging his second ball and giving wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara some catching practice. Maharoof now had his tail up and Eion Morgan was on the receiving end. No sooner was he in than out, edging to Sangakkara who took a good catch to leave Ireland wallowing at 28-3.

The loss of 3 wickets in 4 balls had devastated Ireland, leaving opener William Porterfield and wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien the strenuous task of digging in and rebuilding. Unfortunately, they forgot that the ultimate aim of batting, in rebuilding or attacking the bowlers, is to score runs.

A painful 10 overs after the first three wickets fell, in which time just 18 runs were added, Maharoof struck again. Porterfield (17) was the victim this time as he found Jayasuria at mid-on. Then Muttiah Muralitharan took centre stage.

The Irish lower order were easy pickings for a spinner who has mystified almost every batsman he’s come across and even defeated the laws of cricket. Murali took two wickets in his first over, one being a huge favour to every fan watching (those looking for an insomnia cure aside) in the dismissal of Niall O’Brien. The Northamptonshire keeper edged an offbreak to Sangakkara off Murali’s second legal delivery to end his torturous 28 ball innings of 4.

Kenny Carroll’s solitary opportunity to make a mark on the world cup was gone in the blink of an eye. It was a prime example of proof that, if you want your mark to be a positive one, you don’t try and sweep the second ball you’ve ever faced against Murali. In all likelihood, you’ll be bowled for 0.

The score progressed from 48 to 49 before the next wicket fell. With everything going right for Maharoof, it was hardly surprising when he fielded a ball off his own bowling and threw down the stumps to run out Trent Johnston without scoring.

Murali and Vaas wrapped up the tail. Kyle O’Brien (2) followed in his brother’s footsteps and got out to Murali whilst Kyle McCallan (0) proved himself as inept at playing the spinner as anyone – padding up to a ball that pitched in line and straightened to make himself as plum lbw as you’ll ever see. Vaas also trapped Langford-Smith (18) lbw to finish the innings, but only after the batsman had provided the brightest point of Ireland’s innings – spanking Maharoof over midwicket for 6. Sri Lanka’s devastating performance in the field had left them just 78 to chase.

The chase was even more straight forward than expected. Although Derbyshire recruit Boyd Rankin removed Tharanga(0) to leave Sri Lanka 1-1 after 1 over and Sangakkara (10) squirted a Langford-Smith delivery to Carroll in the covers, Jayasuria and Jayawardene were in no mood to mess about. Jayasuria blasted 24 off 20, including one six cut over third man off Rankin. Captain Mahela Jayawardene was even more destructive, scoring 39 off 30 with his own six off Rankin. Sri Lanka were home in 51 minutes.

Ireland now go home, albeit with inflated reputations. The victors can now look forwards to their semi-final, most likely against New Zealand, who may well be soiling their pants right now.

Ireland 77 (27.4)
Jeremy Bray 20, Dave Langford-Smith 18
Muttish Muralitharan 4-19, Farveez Maharoof 4-25

Sri Lanka 81-2 (10)
Mahela Jayawardene 39*, Sanath Jayasuria 24*
Dave Langford-Smith 1-29, Boyd Rankin 1-36

Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets

Cricket Web Player of the Match: Farveez Maharoof (Sri Lanka) – 10-3-25-4