Despite losing an early wicket when Mark Adair got the wicket of Kamil Mishara, Sri Lanka had a strong powerplay where they amassed 50 runs.
The action now heads to Colombo, where Sri Lanka take on Ireland for the final game of Day 2 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Scorecard
Sri Lanka (Playing XI) – Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
Ireland (Playing XI) – Paul Stirling (c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys
Ireland won the toss and elect to field.
Ireland elect to field | T20WC 2026
Ireland win the toss and elect to field against Sri Lanka at their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 opener.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand recorded their highest ever chase in T20 World Cups to beat Afghanistan to kickstart their campaign in emphatic fashion.
In the second game of the day, England were pushed to the limit by Nepal, as the two-time champions held on for a narrow victory.
England prevail in a box-office thriller | Match Highlights | T20WC 2026
England prevail in Mumbai over a fighting chase by Nepal at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Nepal started the big clash against England in brilliant fashion as Sher Malla got the wicket of the dangerous Phil Salt in the second over. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell combined to add 38 runs together at a brisk pace before Nepal struck again, Nandan Yadav dismissing Jos Buttler (26 off 17).
England managed to amass 57 runs in the powerplay, but their troubles deepened immediately after as Sandeep Lamichhane struck with the first ball post the powerplay, trapping Tom Banton lbw.
Bethell and new batter Harry Brook led England’s fightback with a crucial 71-run partnership. Bethell played an important knock of 55 off 34 balls before he was dismissed by Dipendra Singh Airee.
Will Jacks' all-round show stars in Mumbai | POTM Highlights | T20WC 2026
Watch the highlights of Will Jacks' all-round display of 39 runs off 18 balls and bowling figures of 1/17 against Nepal at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Harry Brook completed his half-century with a fine knock of 53 off 32 balls before Nandan Yadav picked up his second wicket of the match by dismissing the England skipper.
Will Jacks’ blistering unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls provided the late flourish as England finished on a total of 184.
Nepal had a solid start to the chase led by Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh as Nepal raced to 31/0 in three overs. England struck back as Liam Dawson picked up the wicket of Aasif Sheikh, followed soon after by Will Jacks dismissing the dangerous Kushal Bhurtel for 29 off 17 balls.
Momentum-shifting maximum from Bam | T20WC 2026
Nepal's Lokesh Bam goes boom for a mighty maximum in the chase against England at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Nepal ended the powerplay at 47/2 with skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee at the crease. The experienced duo went about cutting into the target, steadily accumulating runs and shifting the pressure back onto England.
The pair stitched together a crucial 82-run partnership that formed the backbone of Nepal’s chase before Sam Curran struck to remove Dipendra Singh Airee. In the very next over, Liam Dawson dismissed skipper Rohit Paudel, completely swinging the momentum back in England’s favour.
Skipper Brook marches to a fifty | T20WC 2026
England skipper Harry Brook brings up a half-century against Nepal at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
A string of boundaries from Lokesh Bam kept Nepal’s hopes alive. A 14-run penultimate over tightened the equation, leaving Nepal needing 10 off the final six deliveries.
Sam Curran held his nerve under pressure, conceding just six runs in a brilliant final over to seal the win for England and hand Nepal a heartbreaking defeat.
New Zealand time the chase perfectly | Match Highlights | T20WC 2026
New Zealand beat Afghanistan by 5 wickets in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 opener against Afghanistan in Chennai.
A half-century from Gulbadin Naib helped Afghanistan post a competitive total of 182/6 in their opening ICC Men's T20 World Cup match against New Zealand on Sunday.
Naib smashed 63 from just 35 deliveries to help the Asian side to their score, after Black Caps pacer Lockie Ferguson had ripped through the Afghanistan top-order.
Ferguson removed Ibrahim Zadran (10) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) from his very first over as New Zealand reduced their opponents to 44/2, before Naib's rally allowed Afghanistan to a decent total at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Naib put on 79 for the third wicket alongside Sediqullah Atal (29), with the pair falling in quick succession to Jacob Duffy and Rachin Ravindra though Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi landed some lofty late blows to keep the momentum going.
Naib's attacking fifty in Chennai | Player Highlights | T20WC 2026
Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib makes a high-tempo 63 runs off 35 balls against New Zealand at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun a web around the New Zealand top order going through the defences of Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra to have New Zealand reeling at 14/2 at the end of 2 overs.
Seifert counter-attacked brilliantly after the two early blows to keep New Zealand in check with respect to the required run rate. Seifert's knock allowed in-form batter Glenn Phillips to get his eye in.
Rashid Khan got the huge wicket of Glenn Phillips who was looking so dangerous and in the process broke a 74-run stand between Seifert and Phillips that threatened to take the game away from them. Phillips goes for a well-made 42 off just 25 deliveries.
Seifert goes through the gears in the chase | POTM Highlights | T20WC 2026
Watch the highlights of Tim Seifert's explosive 65 runs off 42 balls against Afghanistan at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
The New Zealand opener smashed Mohammad Nabi for back-to-back sixes and in process brought up his half-century. Seifert had been unaffected by the three wickets he has seen fall at the other end as he has continued to put the pressure back on Afghanistan.
Two sixes and one boundary later, Nabi got his man as he dismissed the dangerous Tim Seifert who departed having scored a brilliant knock of 65 off just 42 deliveries. He innings put New Zealand in command in Chennai.
Afghanistan tightened the screws with the wicket of Mark Chapman, piling on the pressure. However, Daryl Mitchell (25* off 13) and skipper Mitchell Santner (17* off 18) produced late bursts to calmly guide New Zealand home with 2.1 overs to spare.
Mujeeb Magic leaves Rachin bamboozled | T20 WC 2026
Mujeeb Ur Rahman bamboozles Rachin Ravindra to give Afghanistan their second breakthrough against New Zealand at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.