Ireland beaten by Sri Lanka in T20 opener

Harshitha Samarawickrama's unbeaten 86 helped Sri Lanka beat Ireland with 20 balls to spare

First Twenty20 international, Sydney Parade, Dublin

Ireland 145-6 (20 overs): Lewis 39, Prendergast 29; Priyadharshani 2-35

Sri Lanka 149-3 (16.4 overs): Samarawickrama 86*; Sargent 1-27

Sri Lanka won by seven wickets

Scorecard

Harshitha Samarawickrama's unbeaten 86 helped Sri Lanka clinch a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Ireland in the Twenty20 series opener in Dublin.

Gaby Lewis top-scored for Ireland with 39 as the home side posted 145-6 from their 20 overs at Sydney Parade.

However, the tourists had little difficulty in chasing down the total as Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne put on 83 for the first wicket in under 10 overs.

Freya Sargent dismissed Gunaratne for 30 but while Kavisha Dilhari and Anushka Sanjeewani also departed, Sri Lanka reached their target with 20 balls to spare.

In Ireland's innings, Lewis and Orla Prendergast put on 59 for the second wicket as they reached 83-1 by the 11th over.

However, Prendergast (29) and Lewis departed with only 12 more added, and Ireland's scoring rate dwindled thereafter.

Skipper Laura Delany produced some late resistance before being run out for 25 by Kavisha Dilhari.

More than 1,100 spectators attended the first women's T20 International clash between Ireland and Sri Lanka.

The sides will meet in a further T20 contest at the Dublin venue on Tuesday before a three-game one-day international series starts at Stormont on Friday.