commentary: ireland v sri lanka

Sri Lanka (81/2) beat Ireland (77 all out) by eight wickets with 40 overs remaining
Ruthless stuff from Sri Lanka, who perhaps had a point to make after their somewhat limp defeat against Australia in the last game. They go second, and will almost certainly face New Zealand in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

Over 10: Carroll's second ball is a wide long-hop that Jayawardene treats with the contempt it deserves and crashes through the covers for four to bring the scores level. The final ball of the over is a repeat, which the Sri Lankan skipper cuts through point to win the game in double quick time.
Sri Lanka 81/2 (RR: 8.10): Jayasuriya 24* (20), Jayawardene 39* (27)

Kenny Carroll is into the attack.

Over 9: Jayasuriya plays the whole of the over towards the covers, with only the fourth ball piercing the cordon with a beautiful extra-cover drive for four.
Sri Lanka 73/2 (RR: 8.11): Jayasuriya 24* (20), Jayawardene 31* (21)
Sri Lanka need 5 runs to win from 41 overs at 0.10 runs per over.

Kevin O'Brien is into the attack.

Over 8: Jayawardene drops to one knee from Botha and laps a delicate sweep round the corner for four. Jayawardene very carefully defends the rest of the over, possibly leaving Jayasuriya to score the winning runs.
Sri Lanka 69/2 (RR: 8.63): Jayasuriya 20* (14), Jayawardene 31* (21)
Sri Lanka need 9 runs to win from 42 overs at 0.17 runs per over.

Andre Botha is into the attack.

Over 7: Jayasuriya carves over point first up, but third man gets across to cut off the boundary and they take two. He late cuts to third man for a single, before Jayawardene fairly hammers a pull over the square leg fence for six. He then drives through the covers for another two, ends the over by clipping through mid-wicket for a single.
Sri Lanka 65/2 (RR: 9.29): Jayasuriya 20* (14), Jayawardene 27* (15)
Sri Lanka need 13 runs to win from 43 overs at 0.30 runs per over.

Over 6: Jayawardene clips through mid-wicket for two, before he's just dropped by Mooney going over mid-on, and the ball skips away to the boundary. He pushes another couple down the ground, before going over mid-off for another four.
Sri Lanka 53/2 (RR: 8.83): Jayasuriya 17* (12), Jayawardene 18* (11)
Sri Lanka need 25 runs to win from 44 overs at 0.57 runs per over.

Over 5: Jayawardene pulls brilliantly over square leg for four from a short one that didn't quite have enough pace or bounce from Rankin. Rankin then bowls a no-ball, something that he will have to cut down if he is to fulfil his undoubted potential. Jayawardene drops another quick single into the leg side, before Jayasuriya slashes another four over point and just wide of third man.
Sri Lanka 41/2 (RR: 8.2): Jayasuriya 17* (12), Jayawardene 6* (5)
Sri Lanka need 37 runs to win from 45 overs at 0.82 runs per over.

Over 4: Langford-Smith welcomes Jayawardene with a leg-side wide, but he then gets off the mark with a push through gully. Jayasuriya then launches an aerial drive over the covers for a one bounce four, then blocks the last couple of balls of the over.
Sri Lanka 31/2 (RR: 7.75): Jayasuriya 13* (9), Jayawardene 1* (1)
Sri Lanka need 47 runs to win from 46 overs at 1.02 runs per over.

Mahela Jayawardene is the new batsman.

WICKET!
K Sangakkara c Carroll b Langford-Smith 10 (9)
Jayasuriya takes a quick single from a push to mid-off, before Sangakkara loosely drives on the up to Carroll at extra-cover, who takes a cracking catch diving low to his left.

Over 3: Sangakkara drops a rapid single short on the off side. Rankin is rather harshly punished for a leg-side delivery that goes over the top of leg-stump, then Jayasuriya plays an extraordinary shot, upper-cutting over the slips, third-man and the ropes for six. Another leg-side wide comes next, before Jayasuriya takes a single down to third man off a no-ball. Sangakkara doesn't quite get hold of a pull that just about drops over mid-wicket,and they take two.
Sri Lanka 24/1 (RR: 8.00): Jayasuriya 8* (5), Sangakkara 10* (8)
Sri Lanka need 56 runs to win from 47 overs at 1.19 runs per over.

Over 2: Jayasuriya gets off the mark first up, bunting a full one down the ground for a single. Sangakkara also starts well, clipping a leg-stump half-volley to the square-leg fence for four. Langford-Smith follows that ball wiht a leg-side wide, before Sangakkara rather misses out on a wide long-hop outside off. Another leg-side wide, then Sangakkara flicks a couple through square-leg, and pushes a quick single down the ground.
Sri Lanka 11/1 (RR: 5.50): Jayasuriya 1* (1), Sangakkara 7* (5)
Sri Lanka need 67 runs to win from 48 overs at 1.40 runs per over.

Dave Langford-Smith will share the new ball for Ireland.

Over 1: .
Sri Lanka 1/1 (RR: 1.00): Jayasuriya 0* (0), Sangakkara 0* (0)
Sri Lanka need 77 runs to win from 49 overs at 1.57 runs per over.

Kumar Sangakkara is the new batsman.

WICKET!
U Tharanga c Porterfield b Rankin 0 (7)
Rankin starts off with a no-ball, before beating Tharanga with a cracking away-nipper. He tucks the opener up with a short one that Tharanga has to let hit his chest, before he crashes a long-hop straight to cover on the bounce. Tharanga then goes to the last ball of the over, cutting another long-hop straight to Porterfield at point. Terrible start for Sri Lanka

Boyd Rankin will open the bowling for Ireland.

The teams are out for Sri Lanka's reply. Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga will open the batting.

Ireland: 77 all out (27.4 overs)
Sri Lanka need 78 to win at 1.56 runs per over

Ireland set the lowest total in the World Cup, and Sri Lanka should knock these runs off without too much bother. A combination of poor play and terrible, terrible luck has surely condemned Ireland to an early defeat.

WICKET!
D Langford-Smith lbw b Vaas 18 (21)
Vaas beats Rankin's edge first up, before he takes a leg-bye to square-leg. Vaas then traps Langford-Smith with a full-toss that was arrowing in to leg stump.

Chaminda Vaas is back into the attack.

Over 27: Langford-Smith takes a single with a sweep down to deep-backward square, before Rankin takes a big swipe at one outside off, and gets a four over mid-on. He drops a single down to mid-wicket, and Ireland are just three runs away from beating the lowest total.
Ireland 76/9 (RR: 2.69): Langford-Smith 18 (20), Rankin 5* (14)

Over 26: Langford-Smith perhaps rather unwisely takes a single from a leg-bye, exposing Rankin to the rest of Maharoof's over. However, Rankin does well to keep out the remainder of the over, and Maharoof's excellent spell comes to an end.
Ireland 70/9 (RR: 2.69): Langford-Smith 17 (17), Rankin 0* (11)

Over 25: Langford-Smith survives a very close stumping shout first up, only just getting back in time before Sangakkara whipped off the bails. He then skips down the pitch and hammers a four through straight mid-wicket, following it up with a single to mid-on. Rankin survives the rest of the over, as Ireland edge towards that figure of 78.
Ireland 69/9 (RR: 2.76): Langford-Smith 17 (16), Rankin 0* (6)

Over 24: Langford-Smith clearly wants to go out with all guns blazing, and proves the point by absolutely hammering a massive six over long-on. Next ball he digs out a single from an attempted yorker, before Rankin takes two leg-byes down to fine-leg.
Ireland 63/9 (RR: 2.63): Langford-Smith 12 (12), Rankin 0* (4)

Over 23: Rankin somehow survives the last two balls of the over.
Ireland 54/9 (RR: 2.35): Langford-Smith 4 (7), Rankin 0* (2)

Boyd Rankin is the new batsman.

WICKET!
K McCallan lbw Murali 0 (9)
Langford-Smith tries an uncertain sweep, that he top edges down to Maharoof at fine-leg, but he drops the chance, and they run a single. No harm though, as McCallan rather unwisely tries to pad up to an off-spinner from Murali, and Mark Benson has one of the simpler lbw decisions he will ever have to make.

Over 22: McCallan takes the sensible route and defends the whole of Maharoof's over, ensuring firstly that no more wickets fall, but secondly that he won't face Murali next up.
Ireland 53/8 (RR: 2.41): McCallan 0* (8), Langford-Smith 4 (5)

Over 21: Langford-Smith survives a wild bat-pad appeal first up, before taking the attack to Murali by lofting over mid-on for a boundary.
Ireland 53/8 (RR: 2.52): McCallan 0* (2), Langford-Smith 4 (5)

Dave Langford-Smith is the new batsman.

WICKET!
K O'Brien c Jayasuriya b Murali 2 (4)
Oh dear. The eighth wicket falls, with O'Brien looking to work one through mid-wicket, but gets a leading edge and dollies a catch to Jayasuriya at mid-off.

Over 20: McCallan defends the remaining two balls of the over.
Ireland 49/7 (RR: 2.42): K O'Brien 2* (3), McCallan 0* (2)

Kyle McCallan is the new batsman.

WICKET!
T Johnston run out (Maharoof) 0 (4)
O'Brien takes a single, then Johnston falls to the most unlucky run out you'll ever see. He pushes back down the pitch to Maharoof and takes a couple of off-balance steps down the pitch. Maharoof gathers and flicks back towards the stumps, but it was heading wide before it deflects off Johnston's boot and dislodges the bail.

Over 19: Johnston is beaten outside off first up, then very uncertainly defends the final ball of the over. Bermuda's low total of 78 is under serious threat.
Ireland 48/6 (RR: 2.42): K O'Brien 1* (2), Johnston 0* (2)

Trent Johnston is the new batsman.

WICKET!
K Carroll b Murali 0 (2)
Shambolic stuff from Carroll, who completely misses a sweep to a Murali doosra, and he's clean bowled around his legs. Ireland in massive trouble.

Kenny Carroll is the new batsman.

WICKET!
N O'Brien c Sangakkara b Murali 4 (28)Murali starts with a leg side wide, then Kevin O'Brien gets off the mark with a comfortable single. Murali then silences the oh-so-clever cries of 'no-ball' from the crowd by getting Niall to edge behind to Sangakkara to take a regulation catch.

Muttiah Muralitharan is into the attack.

Kevin O'Brien is the new batsman.

Over 18:
Ireland 46/4 (RR: 2.56): N O'Brien 4* (27), K O'Brien 0* (0)

WICKET!
W Porterfield c Jayasuriya b Maharoof 17 (51)
Maharoof drifts on to Porterfield's pads, and he clips round the corner for a single, and O'Brien follows it up by getting on top of a rising ball outside off and guiding down to third man for one more. Porterfield then makes a total mess of an attempted clip over mid-wicket, chipping the ball straight up in the air and Jayasuriya waits and waits underneath it, before taking a comfortable catch.

Drinks are taken, and it's been relatively un-eventful other than that bonkers eighth over, in which three wickets fell to Maharoof. Sri Lanka may be slightly concerned about Vaas' poor start, being uncharacteristically wayward in his three overs.

Over 17: Kulasekara beats an uncertain O'Brien prod outside off first up, which is the signal for O'Brien to revert to the solid defence tactic. Another maiden for Kulasekara.
Ireland 44/3 (RR: 2.59): Porterfield 16* (46), N O'Brien 3* (26)

Over 16: Maharoof floors a difficult caught and bowled chance after O'Brien dances down the pitch and hammers one straight back to him. Perhaps he was surprised that the Ireland wicketkeeper had dusted off the attacking stroke. He follows the drop with a no-ball, then O'Brien takes a single down to fine leg. Porterfield very nearly serves up a dolly catch to Arnold at extra-cover with a leading edge, but it drops just short of the fielder.
Ireland 44/3 (RR: 2.75): Porterfield 16* (46), N O'Brien 3* (20)

Sri Lanka take the third and final powerplay.

Over 15: Porterfield plays the first four balls of the over with an O'Brien-like defence, before just missing out on a single to square leg. Maiden for Kulaskera.
Ireland 42/3 (RR: 2.80): Porterfield 16* (43), N O'Brien 2* (16)

Over 14: Porterfield takes a leg-bye to square-leg, then O'Brien - perhaps not used to playing an attacking stroke - can only get a single from a loose, wide long-hop outside off. Porterfield does well to dig out a single from an attempted yorker from the last ball of the over.
Ireland 42/3 (RR: 3.00): Porterfield 16* (37), N O'Brien 2* (16)

Over 13: Porterfield drops a single nicely to mid-wicket, before O'Brien resumes his staunch, thou-shall-not-pass defence for the rest of the over.
Ireland 39/3 (RR: 3.00): Porterfield 15* (32), N O'Brien 1* (15)

Over 12: Porterfield guides one nicely off his hips for a single down to fine leg. O'Brien blocks out the remainder of the over, presumably looking to restore some stability to the Ireland innings.
Ireland 38/3 (RR: 3.17): Porterfield 14* (30), N O'Brien 1* (11)

Over 11: Porterfield drives the first of the over very elegantly just past extra-cover for a couple, before Kulasekara beats him outside off stump with a peach of a ball. Porterfield misses out on a widish full-toss, only managing to drive rather weakly into the covers, before edging down to third man for a single.
Ireland 37/3 (RR: 3.36): Porterfield 13* (28), N O'Brien 1* (7)

Kulasekara is back into the attack.

Sri Lanka take the second powerplay.

Over 10: Maharoof is on a hat-trick, but O'Brien blocks the tenth of the over as solidly as can be back down the pitch, and the seamer follows his three wicket over with a maiden.
Ireland 34/3 (RR: 3.40): Porterfield 10* (22), N O'Brien 1* (7)

Over 9: Porterfield whips a single off his pads second ball, allowing O'Brien to get off the mark with a single guided down to third man. Vaas drifts legside again, giving Porterfield a relatively easy four down to a very fine-leg.
Ireland 34/3 (RR: 3.78): Porterfield 10* (22), N O'Brien 1* (1)

Niall O'Brien is the new batsman.

Over 8:
Ireland 28/3 (RR: 3.50): Porterfield 5* (17), N O'Brien 0* (0)

WICKET!
E Morgan c Sangakkara b Maharoof 0 (1)
Morgan goes first ball to an almost identical ball, but this time it needs Sangakkara to take a brilliant diving catch tohis left. What an over - three wickets in four balls.

Eoin Morgan is the new batsmen.

WICKET!
A Botha c Sangakkara b Maharoof 0 (2)
Botha goes second ball to a one that lifts and moves away very slightly, and Sangakkara takes a simple catch.

Interestingly, Andre Botha is the new batsman, rather than the usual number three Eoin Morgan.

WICKET!
J Bray c Arnold b Maharoof 20 (29)
Bray welcomes Maharoof into the attack by smashing him for consecutive boundaries from his first two balls - the first a whip over square leg, the second hammered off the back-foot through the covers. Maharoof gets his revenge by inducing a leading edge with a slower ball that loops towards Russell Arnold at short extra-cover, who takes a fine catch diving forwards.

Farveez Maharoof is into the attack.

Over 7: Bray prods very uncertainly at a few from Vaas, and you get the feeling he would be much better playing his shots as much as possible. That he does next ball, and takes a single to mid-off from a no-ball. The batsmen play almost identical flicks from the final two balls of the over, getting singles down to fine-leg.
Ireland 20/0 (RR: 2.86): Bray 12* (26), Porterfield 5* (17)

Over 6: Bray looks like he's in the mood to attack now, taking a step forward and another across and whipping a decent line and length ball through mid-wicket for a boundary. After that elegant shot, he spoils things slightly by missing with an ugly swipe outside off, before surviving a couple of decent lbw shouts from Kulasekara. He tries another whip from the last ball, but only gets an inside edge on it and they take a single to square leg.
Ireland 16/0 (RR: 2.67): Bray 10* (22), Porterfield 5* (14)

Over 5: Porterfield edges the first ball of the fifth over, but it lands just short of the slips and sneaks through the cordon for a single. That's the signal for Sangakkara to come up to the stumps, but it does little good as Bray hammers one through the covers for the first four of the day. Bray misses out on a ball onto his pads but manages a leg bye, before Vaas ends the over with a cracker that lifts and just goes past Porterfield's outside edge.
Ireland 11/0 (RR: 2.20): Bray 5* (16), Porterfield 5* (14)

Over 4: Kulasekara sends down a jaffa first up that would've beaten more accomplished and experienced batsmen than Porterfield. The batsmen very nearly get themselves into some trouble with some very uncertain calling, but eventually they do take a scrambled single.
Ireland 5/0 (RR: 1.25): Bray 1* (12), Porterfield 4* (12)

Over 3: Vaas is on target again from the first couple of balls, before Bray finally gets himself and Ireland off the mark with a push to mid-on and they scramble through for a single. Porterfield dances down the track to the surprise of just about everyone, and clips nicely but without perfect timing over mid-wicket, and he picks up three.
Ireland 4/0 (RR: 1.33): Bray 1* (10), Porterfield 3* (8)

Over 2: Kulasekara is bang on target straight away, giving Porterfield no room whatsoever to play any shots, and another maiden is completed.
Ireland 0/0 (RR: 0.00): Bray 0* (6), Porterfield 0* (6)

Nuwan Kulasekara will share the new ball.

Over 1: After a couple of slightly wayward deliveries to open up, Vaas misses Bray's outside edge by a whisker, then has a decent lbw shout that is turned down by umpire Mark Benson. Maiden first up for the left-arm seamer.
Ireland 0/0 (RR: 0.00): Bray 0* (6), Porterfield 0* (0)

The players are out on the field - Jeremy Bray and William Porterfield will open the batting for Ireland, while the returning Vaas will open the bowling.

Sri Lanka make a couple of changes from the side that lost to Australia, with Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan coming back, replacing Dilhara Fernando and Malinga Bandara.

Lasith Malinga's ankle is not risked ahead of a semi-final that, barring extraordinary performances from either Ireland or New Zealand, will be against the Kiwis in Jamaica on Tuesday.

One change for Ireland - Kenny Carroll replaces Andrew White.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Jayasuriya, Tharanga, Sangakkara (wk), Jayawardene (capt), Silva, Dilshan, Arnold, Maharoof, Vaas, Kulasekara, Muralitharan

Ireland: Bray, Porterfield, Morgan, Niall O'Brien (wk), Kevin O'Brien, Botha, Carroll, Johnston, McCallan, Langford-Smith, Rankin

Afternoon. First thing to report is that Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene has won the toss and has put Ireland into bat.