<p>Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka on Sunday credited the spinners for their dominating nine-wicket win over Ireland in a T20 World Cup match, saying keeping spin options for the death overs did the trick.</p>.<p>It was the bowling unit, especially spin duo of Maheesh Theekshana (2/19) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2/25), who set up the win by restricting Ireland to 128 for 8.</p>.<p>"Really happy with the way we've played the game, we set out to do some things and did well. We knew spin would play a major role, we knew they'd like pace, so we kept a lot of spin for the back-end," Shanaka said at the post-match presentation ceremony here.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/sri-lankan-bowlers-restrict-ireland-to-below-par-128/8-1156091.html" target="_blank">Sri Lankan bowlers restrict Ireland to below-par 128/8</a></strong></p>.<p>Kusal Mendis then complemented the bowlers with a 43-ball 68 as Sri Lanka registered an easy chase to overhaul the target with five overs to spare and make a winning start to the super 12 stage.</p>.<p>"He has been consistent this year (on Kusal Mendis), has played according to the situation most of the times, That's what he has improved - it is high-class batting. That consistency which Sri Lanka needed for a long time, that gives us a luxury," Shanaka said.</p>.<p>"Death bowling is our key area and the start is important - we did that really good. Want to continue with that confidence."</p>.<p>Shanaka's Ireland counterpart Andrew Balbirnie was left disappointed with the team's batting effort against the Lankan spinners.</p>.<p>"We knew they'd be a big threat. There wasn't a whole lot of spin, but enough to challenge the stumps and bat. We wanted to get 160 or so. We knew they did have a threat of spin on a used wicket, but you have to bat well -- be it first or second," he said.</p>.<p>Harry Tector was the top-scorer for Ireland, scoring 45 off 42 balls with two fours and one six.</p>.<p>"Tector is one of our top players, he's had an amazing year, he's an important player in our middle order," Balbirnie said.</p>.<p>Mendis, who was adjudged player-of-the-match, credited the bowlers for setting up the win and said the idea was to chase down the total in 17 overs.</p>.<p>"The bowlers did really well to limit them to a low score and I just played my game," he said.</p>.<p>"I was just told to play the first 6 overs and then continue, the aim basically was to last 10 overs, but we were chasing a low score.</p>.<p>"We wanted to win within 17 overs, Charith (Asalanka) told me to not put myself under any pressure."</p>.<p>Sri Lanka will next take on Australia on Tuesday in Perth.</p>
<p>Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka on Sunday credited the spinners for their dominating nine-wicket win over Ireland in a T20 World Cup match, saying keeping spin options for the death overs did the trick.</p>.<p>It was the bowling unit, especially spin duo of Maheesh Theekshana (2/19) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2/25), who set up the win by restricting Ireland to 128 for 8.</p>.<p>"Really happy with the way we've played the game, we set out to do some things and did well. We knew spin would play a major role, we knew they'd like pace, so we kept a lot of spin for the back-end," Shanaka said at the post-match presentation ceremony here.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/sri-lankan-bowlers-restrict-ireland-to-below-par-128/8-1156091.html" target="_blank">Sri Lankan bowlers restrict Ireland to below-par 128/8</a></strong></p>.<p>Kusal Mendis then complemented the bowlers with a 43-ball 68 as Sri Lanka registered an easy chase to overhaul the target with five overs to spare and make a winning start to the super 12 stage.</p>.<p>"He has been consistent this year (on Kusal Mendis), has played according to the situation most of the times, That's what he has improved - it is high-class batting. That consistency which Sri Lanka needed for a long time, that gives us a luxury," Shanaka said.</p>.<p>"Death bowling is our key area and the start is important - we did that really good. Want to continue with that confidence."</p>.<p>Shanaka's Ireland counterpart Andrew Balbirnie was left disappointed with the team's batting effort against the Lankan spinners.</p>.<p>"We knew they'd be a big threat. There wasn't a whole lot of spin, but enough to challenge the stumps and bat. We wanted to get 160 or so. We knew they did have a threat of spin on a used wicket, but you have to bat well -- be it first or second," he said.</p>.<p>Harry Tector was the top-scorer for Ireland, scoring 45 off 42 balls with two fours and one six.</p>.<p>"Tector is one of our top players, he's had an amazing year, he's an important player in our middle order," Balbirnie said.</p>.<p>Mendis, who was adjudged player-of-the-match, credited the bowlers for setting up the win and said the idea was to chase down the total in 17 overs.</p>.<p>"The bowlers did really well to limit them to a low score and I just played my game," he said.</p>.<p>"I was just told to play the first 6 overs and then continue, the aim basically was to last 10 overs, but we were chasing a low score.</p>.<p>"We wanted to win within 17 overs, Charith (Asalanka) told me to not put myself under any pressure."</p>.<p>Sri Lanka will next take on Australia on Tuesday in Perth.</p>