Ireland beaten by Sri Lanka in T20 opener

First Twenty20 international, Sydney Parade, Dublin

Ireland 145-6 (20 overs): Lewis 39, Prendergast 29; Priyadharshani 2-35

Sri Lanka 149-3 (16.4 overs): Samarawickrama 86*; Sargent 1-27

Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets

Scorecard

Harshitha Samarawickrama's unbeaten 86 helped Sri Lanka clinch a comfortable seven-wicket triumph complete Ireland successful nan Twenty20 bid opener successful Dublin.

Gaby Lewis top-scored for Ireland pinch 39 arsenic nan location broadside posted 145-6 from their 20 overs astatine Sydney Parade.

However, nan visitors had small trouble successful chasing down nan full arsenic Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne put connected 83 for nan first wicket successful nether 10 overs.

Freya Sargent dismissed Gunaratne for 30 but while Kavisha Dilhari and Anushka Sanjeewani besides departed, Sri Lanka reached their target pinch 20 balls to spare.

In Ireland's innings, Lewis and Orla Prendergast put connected 59 for nan 2nd wicket arsenic they reached 83-1 by nan 11th over.

However, Prendergast (29) and Lewis departed pinch only 12 much added, and Ireland's scoring complaint dwindled thereafter.

Skipper Laura Delany produced immoderate precocious guidance earlier being tally retired for 25 by Kavisha Dilhari.

The sides will meet successful a further T20 title astatine nan Dublin venue connected Tuesday earlier a three-game one-day world bid starts astatine Stormont connected Friday.