Ireland dropped five catches as Sri Lanka set them a target of 164
Men's T20 World Cup, Group B, Colombo
Sri Lanka 163-6 (20 overs): Kusal Mendis 56* (43); Dockrell 2-17
Ireland 143 all out (19.5 overs): Tector 40 (34); Theekshana 3-23
Ireland could not overcome a host of errors in the field as they fell 20 runs short of Sri Lanka to lose their T20 World Cup opener.
Having failed to win a game at this tournament two years ago and having never beaten Sri Lanka, Ireland got the desired return from their spinners as the co-hosts were restricted to 104-4 after 16 overs.
George Dockrell was the pick of their bowlers and took the wicket of opener Pathum Nissanka for 24 thanks to a fine catch from skipper Paul Stirling.
The rest of Ireland's work in the field was not nearly as exemplary, however, with five drops, four of them in the final four overs as Sri Lanka tacked on a further 59 runs, making the chase all the tougher.
Despite an apparent hamstring injury, Wanindu Hasaranga accounted for the key wickets of Ross Adair, Harry Tector and Curtis Campher as Ireland were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
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With Ireland winning the toss and electing to bowl, it was an early test of how the side's spinners would adjust not only to the conditions but superior opposition
Through a three-match series with Italy and two against the UAE in their preparations, Heinrich Malan's side eventually settled upon a bowling attack missing the out-of-sorts Josh Little.
A change facilitated by the bowling renaissance of Dockrell, the decision to leave out Ireland's most dangerous quick was vindicated as the spinners stymied Sri Lanka in the middle overs.
Dockrell led the way with figures of 2-17, ably assisted by Gareth Delany whose one wicket came at the cost of 24 runs. With Sri Lanka 50-1 after the powerplay, eight consecutive overs of spin held them to just 87-4.
Having hit Barry McCarthy's final delivery of the powerplay for four, the co-hosts would not find another boundary until Kamindu Mendis brought up his side's 100 in the 16th over.
With Sri Lanka having finally seen the back of Delany and Dockrell, the partnership of Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis were belatedly able to accelerate ahead, although they were helped in no small part by Irish errors in the field.
There were three drops in the space of four deliveries off Matthew Humphreys, who will feel his figures of 0-44 should come with an asterisk.
With Sri Lanka powering from 104-4 to 163-6 across the final four overs of their innings, Ireland's target was much tougher.
While Ross Adair always felt the most likely to open the batting with Stirling, there was still a decision to be made between the 31-year-old and Tim Tector coming into this tournament.
After averaging 14 across the five warm-ups at the top of the order, Ireland's faith in the man who hit a T20 century against South Africa in 2024 again appeared wholly justified when, despite some less than aesthetic moments, he quickly motored to 34 thanks to five fours and a six.
But, after contributing two of those five drops in Sri Lanka's innings, Adair had another moment to forget when taking a wild heave at the bowling of a hobbling Hasaranga and having his stumps uprooted.
Without the thump of Adair and Stirling, who was earlier out for six after facing 13 balls, Ireland relied upon the running of Lorcan Tucker and Tector to keep the game in the balance.
The required run-rate was always on the rise though and, as Ireland tried to find the accelerator, miscues followed in their attempts to find the boundaries.
By the time Maheesh Theekshana accounted for Ben Caltiz and Delany with consecutive deliveries, Ireland required 44 from the final 20 balls and never looked primed to chase down the tally.
Things get no easier in Group B with Ireland set to face Australia on Wednesday (09:30 GMT), while Sri Lanka are next in action a day later against Oman (05:30 GMT).
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