Ireland frustrated as Sri Lanka triumph at Malahide Cricket Club
Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 76 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Dinesh Chandimal hit an unbeaten 100 from 107 balls as Sri Lanka posted 303-7 from their 50 overs after being put in to bat under leaden skies in north County Dublin.
Ireland were 164-4 in the 33rd over, 24 runs off the required rate, when the rain that had threatened all day finally materialised. Crucially, they lost Porterfield just 12 balls before the weather interruption, for a fluent 73 off 88 balls.
He and Kevin O’Brien seemed well set to secure Ireland’s first-ever victory over a full member side in Dublin, before their partnership of 68 from 11.2 overs was halted.
“The big moment was when I got out just before the break,” Porterfield said.
“If I had still be there going back out, I think it would have made things a lot easier for us.
“We struggled to get a partnership going after that, but we might have got a little momentum going if we had those wickets in hand.” O’Brien went on to hit an aggressive 64 from 49 deliveries, but he received minimal support from the tail as Ireland were dismissed for 216.
