<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Sri Lanka cruised to a nine-wicket victory over Ireland in their Super 12s opener at the T20 World Cup in Hobart.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kusal Mendis smashed an unbeaten 68 from 43 balls as Sri Lanka secured victory with five overs to spare.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ireland earlier limped to 128-8, with top-scorer Harry Tector, who hit 45 off 42, one of only three players to reach double figures.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sri Lanka's spinners were particularly impressive, with Maheesh Theekshana taking 2-19 and Wanindu Hasaranga 2-25.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The result means Sri Lanka sit second in the early Group 1 table as one of three teams on two points, with New Zealand top and England third on net run rate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2014 champions now travel to Perth for a match against holders Australia on Tuesday (12:00 BST). Ireland take on England at Melbourne the following day (05:00).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ireland slump to disappointing defeat</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ireland went into this game full of confidence after thrashing two-time winners West Indies by nine wickets in their final group match to reach this stage, but this was a sobering reality check on a chilly afternoon in Hobart.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following successful chases in their previous two matches, captain Andy Balbirnie surprisingly chose to bat first after winning the toss, but their innings never got going.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They were reduced to 26-2 inside five overs, with Balbirnie bowled by Lahiru Kumara for one and Lorcan Tucker bowled around his legs by Theekshana for 10.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The dangerous Paul Stirling, dropped by Kumara on 28, added just six more runs before being caught at long-off by Bhanuka Rajapaksa off the bowling of Dhananjaya de Silva. And when Curtis Campher went for two in the following over, Ireland were in deep trouble at 60-4.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tector's patient innings steadied the ship, but disciplined bowling in the middle overs meant Ireland struggled for boundaries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They only hit two sixes in the entire innings and scored just 28 runs off the final five overs for the loss of four wickets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When Mendis and De Silva raced to 50-0 after the powerplay in reply the result was never in doubt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">De Silva's dismissal for 31 thanks to a sharp take by wicketkeeper Tucker failed to halt their momentum, with Charith Asalanka adding 31 from 22 deliveries before Mendis sealed the win with a huge six over mid-wicket.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ireland will now have to lift themselves for Wednesday's meeting with England, the first time the teams have met at a global tournament since Ireland's shock victory the 2011 50-over World Cup. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>