by Sandeep Shivam

Sri Lanka 377-8 (Perera 135) beat Ireland 241 (McBrine 79) by 136 runs
Second One-Day International, Dublin Scorecard

After a century from Kusal Perera and a 46-ball 95 from Seekkuge Prasanna set up a total of 377 for eight, Suranga Lakmal’s four-wicket haul bundled Ireland out for 241 runs, giving Sri Lanka a 2-0 series win with a 136-run victory in the second One-Day International in Dublin.

Ireland won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat. A slow start in the first three overs was followed by flurry of boundaries from Perera (135) as Sri Lanka reached 47 for naught in 10 overs.

Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka (63) scored runs at a decent pace in their opening partnership. Perera was the first to reach a fifty in the 17th over. The 100-run opening stand came in just 19 overs.

Gunathilaka also completed his fifty in the 23rd over as Sri Lanka reached 144 for naught at the halfway mark. Minutes later, the 147-run opening stand was broken when Gunathilaka was run out.

Prasanna (95) set the tone for his innings, smashing a six off the very first ball. While Perera inched towards his century, Prasanna smashed six sixes as he raced to a 23-ball fifty.

In the next over, Perera brought up his century off 105 deliveries. The 100-run stand between Perera and Prasanna came up in just under 10 overs.

Five runs short of a well-deserved century, Prasanna was castled by Tim Murtagh (3-66) in the 42nd over. Moments later, Perera was also dismissed by Murtagh, leaving Sri Lanka at 309 for three after 42 overs.

Dasun Shanaka (1) also lasted just two balls and holed out to fine leg in the 43rd over. There was no respite for Ireland as Angelo Mathews (24) and Farveez Maharoof (29) added 52 runs in five overs.

Despite losing Mathews, Maharoof, Dinesh Chandimal (3) and Kusal Mendis (8) in the final three overs, Sri Lanka piled on a total of 377 for eight. This was the highest ODI total in Ireland.

In the chase, Paul Stirling (22) began positively but William Porterfield (8) failed to get going and was caught at mid-on in the seventh over.

Stirling was caught behind in the ninth over as Ireland reached 41 for two after 10. Ireland slid further, losing Ed Joyce (9) in the 12th over, while Kevin O’Brien (12) was sent back to the hut in the 16th over.

John Anderson (34) got off to a positive start but he too fell in the 22nd over, as Ireland only managed 112 for five at the halfway mark.

Gary Wilson’s (11) defences were breached by Prasanna (2-32) in the 26th over. Stuart Poynter (36) was handed a couple of reprieves and along with Andy McBrine (79), he added 45-runs for the seventh wicket in 9.1 overs.

Poynter finally fell in the 35th over with Ireland needing 218 runs with three wickets in hand.

McBrine made his start count and scored at a decent nick. Barry McCarthy (5) and Murtagh (0) fell in the space of three overs leaving Ireland at 195 for nine after 40 overs.

McBrine completed his fifty and got a few more hits away before holing out to deep mid-wicket. Ireland were bowled out for 241 runs in 45 overs, giving Sri Lanka a 136-run victory.

Lakmal (4-38) was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers.The visitors also took home the series 2-0. Shanaka was named as the player of the series