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In a championship where clinical precision is the gold standard, Pawan Rasnayakfired during Sri Lankaof 2026 T20 World Cup The game against Ireland on February 8, 2026 sparked fierce criticism. Ratnayake fell victim to what many described as a moment of tactical madness as he chased momentum in the slow middle stages at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Pavan Rathnayake’s accidental shot results in Sri Lanka conceding a goal against Ireland in the 2026 World Cup T20 match
The defining moment of Rathnayak’s brief stay came on the first pitch of the 11th hole (10.1). Facing Ireland’s left-arm spinner George Dockrell As Sri Lanka struggled to accelerate at 68/2, Ratnayake attempted bold slope shots against a delivery that required a straighter bat. He dropped to one knee prematurely in an attempt to steer the ball toward third man, but his lack of footwork and poor execution were exposed when the ball stayed low and slid past.
He tried to be overly creative, but he seemed stuck between an inside-out drive, a late cut and a possible ramp; the result was that the ball completely lost its shape and it stayed on course and hit the stumps. Ratnayake scored just 5 runs off 9 balls but scored a disappointing single-digit score cleanly, leaving Sri Lanka in trouble at 68/3 and effectively ending any hope of a quick acceleration in the middle overs.
This brain-dead moment was particularly frustrating for Colombo fans as he was just starting to settle in, but his departure forced Dunis Velarachi to arrive at the crease earlier than planned, shifting a huge burden back to the senior batsman to repair the damage.
Here is the video:
#SLvsIRE pic.twitter.com/J4DimaKy52
— Aman (@Amanriz78249871) February 8, 2026
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T20 World Cup 2026: Ireland spin trap suffocates Sri Lanka in Colombo
Ratnayake’s dismissal was at the center of a superb bowling performance by Dockrell, who dismantled Sri Lanka’s top order with surgical precision. Dockrell’s spell has been nothing short of elite as he has taken the all-important wickets. Pathum Nissanka (24) A little earlier. Ireland’s spinners took advantage of a surface with strong grip and low bounce, making it nearly impossible for the Sri Lankan batsmen to spin the ball or find boundaries.
However, towards the end of the inning, the momentum shifted dramatically. Despite being choked by running for most of the middle stages, Kamindu Mendis Launched a sensational counterattack, scoring a brisk 44 goals in just 19 balls. beside kusalmendiWith a gritty 56 runs to secure victory, the duo took advantage of sloppy Irish defense, including two missed catches, to score 21 runs in the 17th over. This ‘jailbreak’ saw Sri Lanka recover from a low of 86/4 to a more competitive 163/6 at the end of 20 overs. While Ireland was at Dockrell (2/17) and Gareth Delanydecided by midfield, a late surge from the Mendis duo set up a thrilling second innings chase in Colombo.
