Cricket:Ireland were left to rue another inept bowling performance as they failed to protect their total of 174 and lost to a strong Sri Lanka 'A' side in the final game of the Quadrangular tournament in Colombo.
Ireland’s misery was compounded with news that Boyd Rankin will miss next week’s World Cup qualifying tournament in the Emirates. A scan revealed a fracture with doctors advising at least a three-week lay-off.
A replacement for Byd has yet to be named but Nigel Jones has put himself in the shop window after he took 1-22 in his four-over spell. Jones was one of the few to escape punishment against the free-flowing Sri Lankans.
Alex Cusack took two wickets but at a cost of 43 runs, while Peter Connell also went at more than ten an over on his return to international duty after taking paternity leave.
Chinthaka Jayasinghe (41) and Jeewan Mendis (29) took Sri Lanka to the win and the tournament trophy with an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 68 in just 52 balls as they got over the line with 10 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka made a fast start, scoring 51 runs in the opening three overs.
Earlier Ireland had posted 174/6, the highlight being an opening century stand between the new-look partnership of Niall O’Brien and Paul Stirling - Ireland rested skipper William Porterfield along with Trent Johnston and Andre Botha.
O’Brien recorded his second successive international T20 half century, hitting six fours and two sixes in his 59 from 37 balls. Stirling scored 43 from 35 balls, as the pair put on 104 in 11.4 overs.
Gary Wilson impressed with an unbeaten 25, but they were short of a winning total.
Ireland now move on to the UAE, where they have a further warm-up fixture with Canada on Sunday, before facing Afghanistan in their opening T20 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Scoreboard:
Ireland 174/6 (20 overs) (N O’Brien 59, P Stirling 43, G Wilson 25*) lost to Sri Lanka A 178/5 (18.2 overs) (C Jayasinghe 41*, J Mendis 29*, T Paranavitha 21) by five wickets.