Three former champions had already been given a fright by cricket’s minnows at this T20 World Cup, but Pakistan, India and England all wriggled off the hook. On Sunday night Sri Lanka joined that jittery club, living dangerously before steadying the ship to secure a 20 run win over Ireland at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

The architect of the escape act was Kamindu Mendis, whose sparkling counter-punch changed the complexion of a game that was drifting into Irish hands. At a time when Sri Lanka’s batters were scratching around and the boundary rope seemed miles away, Kamindu arrived to breathe life into a spluttering innings.

Sri Lanka had endured 57 deliveries without finding the fence, a drought that would test the patience of a saint. Kamindu broke the shackles with a cheeky reverse sweep and then put the foot on the accelerator in the 17th over, plundering 21 runs to provide the much needed impetus. His cameo powered the hosts to 163, a total their well oiled bowling unit ultimately defended.

Without Kamindu’s rescue act, the tournament’s first major upset would have arrived at Sri Lanka’s doorstep.

It had been curious that selectors initially tried to shoehorn Dhananjaya de Silva into the side a month before the event despite his two year exile from T20 cricket. Common sense prevailed at the eleventh hour and Kamindu was drafted in before the squad submission to the ICC, a decision that paid handsome dividends as he delivered Sri Lanka their first points.

Old habits, however, continue to haunt the Sri Lankans. They tend to fly out of the blocks in the Power Play, only to lose their way once the openers depart, with a middle order that struggles to rotate strike when spin comes into play. Finding a way to bring Kusal Janith Perera into the mix could be the key to restoring balance to the line up.

There were also worried faces when leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga limped off after his first over. Although he returned to complete his quota, fears linger that his troublesome hamstring is beginning to play up again.

Sri Lanka now head to the hill country, where they face Oman and Australia at Pallekele before returning to Colombo for the final group clash against Zimbabwe.

by Rex Clementine

In probably the most remarkable batting performance of the season, Mahinda amassed a mammoth first innings total of 507 for seven wickets declared against Nalanda as open bat Thevindu Rashmika and top order batsman Dineth Pehesara cracked quick fire knocks in the traditional Under 19 cricket encounter at Campbell Place on Monday.

‎Thevindu set the tone of their innings hammering 18 fours and eight sixes to score 151 runs before lunch. He faced just 100 balls for his knock which is the highest individual total scored before lunch this season.

‎He put on a first wicket partnership of 145 runs with Dulsith Dharshana who made 49.

‎Pehesara then added 181 runs for the fifth wicket with Manitha Rajapaksha.

‎Pehesara made 175 runs inclusive of 19 fours and six sixes.

‎In their essay the home team were 32 for one wicket at stumps.

‎Meanwhile at Moratuwa, St. Peter’s posted 319 runs against St. Sebastians’ with Enosh Peterson (86) and Sadeesha Silva (84n.o.) scoring half centuries in a Division I Tier ‘A’ match. (RF)

Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa won the toss and asked South Africa  to bat in their World Cup opener in Ahmedabad.

South Africa have opted for a pace-heavy attack. Keshav Maharaj slots in as their only spinner, alongside the speedy quartet of Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Tristan Stubbs also begins the tournament at the No. 6 spot – a position Jason Smith had occupied in their last T20I, while Stubbs had slid down to No. 7. Smith is in the World Cup squad but did not find a spot in South Africa’s starting eleven.

South Africa’s pace is expected to get the most out of a characteristically flat Ahmedabad black-soil pitch. But first, their batters will have a hit in a game they begin as overwhelming favourites against Canada, who are their second World Cup.

Canada’s new captain, Bajwa, will lead the side at a global tournament for the first time. He also slots in at the top of the order, alongside Yuvraj Samra, and their batting power will be key to their hopes of causing a massive upset.

Canada have lost both their warm-up games – to Italy and Nepal – but should their batters come off on a friendly pitch, South Africa will look to have the added insurance of a few more runs in the bank before dew takes over when Canada begin their chase at night.

South Africa:  Quinton de Kock (wk),  Aiden Markram (capt),  Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs,  Marco Jansen,  Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj,  Lungi Ngidi

Canada:  Dilpreet Bajwa (capt), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Dhaliwal,  Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva,  Harsh Thaker,  Saad Bin Zafar,  Jaskaran Singh,  Dilon Heyliger,  Kaleem Sana,  Ansh Patel

(Cricinfo)