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Sri Lanka make a winning start but they had to battle hard to overcome Ireland in Colombo.

The co-hosts are back in action on Thursday with Oman their opponents in Pallekele.

Ireland have it all to do now to make the top two in Group B and it only gets harder with Australia next up in Colombo on Wednesday.

That's all from us for now - we'll be back on Monday for more World Cup coverage.

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Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka: "We're really happy with our all round performance tonight.

"At the start we struggled. I actually thought the toss would play a crucial part but it helped us as the pitch slowed down a bit.

"Wanindu Hasaranga hurt his hamstring but we're hoping it wasn't too bad."

Ireland captain Paul Stirling: "We thought they got 15-20 too many. At the start of the day we'd be happy chasing 160.

"When the match was on the line we weren't as clinical as we wanted to be. A little bit sloppy in the field which is disappointing.

"Experience told today. The Sri Lanka team at the end of both innings, that was the difference really. Those 20 runs - they defended well at the back end. We had plenty of wickets in hand, thought we were in good positions the whole way through and they really upped the ante and put the squeeze on.

"You can sit back and reflect and pick those 20 runs out of anywhere. At the end of the day, they were 20 runs better than us throughout the whole match.

"I think spin is going to be a challenge in this competition. Certainly, it wasn't coming onto the bat as much as it could have been. Spin is going to be dominating phases of this game."

Player of the match Kamindu Mendis, who scored 44 (19) for Sri Lanka: "When I got to the middle, I wanted to keep my momentum and score runs and put on a partnership with Kusal Mendis.

"Ireland played well until the 15th, 16th over. Maheesh [Theekshana] did really well. [The bowlers] bowled really well and kept them under 150.

"We thought it will be a 170-plus wicket but when playing the spinners, we feel like 160 or something. We just wanted to put over 160 on the board. And we defended it.

"It was a good game. A good start for the tournament. The boys did really well. Kusal played really well. The boys are in a good mindset."

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Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Sri Lanka played like a team that had just lost 3-0. They didn't have any impetus. They allowed Ireland to get on top of them. It wasn't until the 18th over, which went for 21, that Sri Lanka decided to inject some life into their innings.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

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Bowls him! Done and dusted. Pathirana cleaned up Humpreys with an absolute beauty, spearing in on off stump.

Ireland lose by 20 runs. Sri Lanka have won their opening game to the delight of the local crowd. Ireland know exactly where they lost that game.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Out to deep point and taken. It was wide and Dockrell was reaching. It was taken a few yards inside the boundary. Ireland lose their ninth. And now, they are done. They need 21 off three.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

21 off four. Ireland are not yet technically out of it.

These runs could be important for net run-rate.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Slower ball in the air and it's going to be taken! We've seen plenty like that dropped tonight but Shanaka ran with purpose to his left and plucked it out of the air.

Ireland go into the last over needing 27 to win. They need something of a miracle.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

A really well bowled slower ball, wide outside the off stump. Mark Adair throws his hands and an easy catch for Shanaka. Ireland have fallen away at the back end of both innings.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Brilliant work from Sri Lanka in that over. They've saved three boundaries with nimble footwork and taken a wicket.

Ireland need 36 from 12.

Wanindu Hasaranga finishes with 3-25 to leave Ireland needing 36 from 12 balls.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's spin it to win it.

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Campher was striking the ball well, wasn't he? He was trying to go down the ground but he's picked long-off out perfectly. He had to do something but he couldn't find a boundary - it's such a big outfield.

Brilliantly captaincy to bring Hasaranga on.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Campher goes high and hard but the fielder takes it and with it, almost certainly the two points for Sri Lanka.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Ireland need a 16 or 17-run over to keep themselves in this.