The cricket rivalry between Sri Lanka and Ireland has grown over the years, showcasing thrilling matches, remarkable records, and memorable performances. From Tests to ODIs and T20Is, this timeline captures every key moment and statistic of their encounters. Fans can track the journey of a dominant Asian side against a rapidly improving European team.
Sri Lanka and Ireland have faced each other in international cricket across formats, producing exciting matches and historic milestones. This complete timeline covers all their encounters, highlighting records, standout players, and match results. It’s a perfect guide for cricket fans who want to explore every aspect of this rivalry.
From their first meeting to recent contests, Sri Lanka vs Ireland matches tell a story of dominance, improvement, and unforgettable cricket moments. This detailed timeline provides full records, statistics, and analysis for every game, giving fans an easy way to understand how the rivalry has evolved over time.
1. Introduction: Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Ireland Cricket Team Timeline
Cricket remains a sport where emerging nations confront established powerhouses, generating fresh narratives and memorable encounters. Ireland’s emergence into competitive cricket began during the 2000s. Conversely, Sri Lanka possessed an illustrious cricketing heritage — World Cup champions, Asian dominators, and birthplace of cricket’s finest talents.
When these nations collided, outcomes proved fascinating. The Sri Lanka vs Ireland rivalry stands out because:
- It showcases Ireland’s ascent in international cricket
- It challenges Sri Lanka against a determined, rising European force
- It delivers competitive fixtures in ICC tournaments and bilateral tours
Though Sri Lanka has historically dominated, Ireland’s growth remains undeniable.
2. Overview of Both Teams
Before exploring the rivalry timeline, consider this quick comparison:
| Team | First International Match | Full Member Status | Major Achievement |
| Sri Lanka | 1975 | 1981 | 1996 Cricket World Cup Champions |
| Ireland | 2006 | 2017 | 2007 WC victory over Pakistan |
Ireland’s transformation from Associate nation to Test-playing side makes this rivalry even more remarkable.
3. How This Rivalry Started
The Sri Lanka vs Ireland timeline commenced in 2007, during the ICC Cricket World Cup. Ireland were newcomers; Sri Lanka were champions. Yet gradually, Ireland’s fearless approach brought excitement to every meeting.
Their battles have encompassed:
- ICC World Cups
- ICC T20 World Cups
- Bilateral ODI series
- A complete multi-test series in 2023
Every format has contributed a fresh chapter to this developing cricket narrative.
4. Full Format -Wise Timeline Breakdown
This rivalry can be segmented into three phases:
Phase 1: 2007–2013 → This initial period featured only ICC tournament encounters where Sri Lanka dominated completely while Ireland gained crucial international exposure and experience.
Phase 2: 2014–2019 → The relationship evolved with Ireland’s first bilateral tour to Sri Lanka and the historic introduction of Test cricket between both nations.
Phase 3: 2020–2024 → The rivalry intensified with more frequent meetings across all formats, producing increasingly competitive cricket as Ireland continued their rapid development.
Let’s explore deeper into each.
5. ODI Timeline (With Detailed Tables)
Sri Lanka and Ireland initially clashed in the 50-over format during 2007, marking the beginning of their one-day cricket rivalry.
2007 Cricket World Cup
Sri Lanka overpowered Ireland comprehensively with dominant performances in both the batting and bowling departments. This opening encounter established the foundation of their cricketing relationship on the global stage.
| Year | Venue | Match Winner | Margin | Key Highlight |
| 2007 | St. George’s | Sri Lanka | Won by 8 wickets | Dominant bowling and strong batting display by Sri Lanka |
2014 Ireland Tour of Sri Lanka (ODI Series)
Ireland formally toured Sri Lanka for the first time for a quick ODI series. This bilateral series marked a significant milestone in developing cricketing ties between both nations beyond ICC tournaments.
Match result tabe
| Match | Venue | Winner | Result Description |
| 1st ODI | Colombo | Sri Lanka | Convincing win |
| 2nd ODI | Colombo | Sri Lanka | Dominated throughout |
2016 ODI Clash
Sri Lanka again dominated the competition.
| Matches Played | Sri Lanka Victories | Ireland Victories | No Result | Note |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Sri Lanka dominated all matches, maintaining a perfect record |
Ireland has verified improvement but has yet to triumph over Sri Lanka in ODIs.
6. T20I Timeline (With Detailed Tables)
Sri Lanka has consistently outperformed Ireland in major ICC T20 events, showing stronger bowling and big-match control.
Ireland has shown energy in the qualifiers, but Sri Lanka’s skill and experience have kept them ahead in every T20 meeting.
| Year | Tournament | Winner | Margin/Result | Key Performer |
| 2009 | T20 World Cup | Sri Lanka | Big margin | Sri Lankan bowlers |
| 2014 | T20 World Cup | Sri Lanka | Comfortable win | SL spin attack |
| 2021 | T20 WC Qualifier | Sri Lanka | Dominant win | Wanindu Hasaranga |
| 2022 | T20 World Cup (Round 1) | Sri Lanka | Strong victory | Pathum Nissanka (bat) |
Sri Lanka leads 3-0 in T20Is.
7. Test Match Timeline (Full Details)
The Test competition is in which Ireland has proven its actual capacity.
2019 – First Sri Lanka vs Ireland Test (Fresh Table)
| Year | Venue | Match Result | Winning Margin | Standout Player | Key Note |
| 200919 | Colombo | Sri Lanka | Win by an innings | Spin unit (SL) | Ireland ne fight ki but Asian conditions tough hogein |
2023 – 2-Match Test Series in Sri Lanka (Fresh Table)
1st Test – Galle
| Match | Result | Margin | Best Performer | Highlight |
| 1st Test | Sri Lanka won | Innings + big lead | Prabath Jayasuriya | Ireland’s batting collapsed vs spin |
2nd Test (Galle)
| Result | Margin | Top Performer |
| Sri Lanka won | Victory by innings | Ramesh Mendis |
Overall Test Summary
| Total Tests | SL Wins | IRE Wins | Drawn | Series Trend |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Sri Lanka’s clean sweep |
8. Complete Head-to-Head Statistics Table
| Format | Games Played | Sri Lanka Wins | Ireland Wins | No Result | Win Rate (SL) |
| Test | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| ODI | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| T20I | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Total | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Perfect Record |
Sri Lanka currently has a 100% win record.
9. Batting Records – Sri Lanka vs Ireland
Top run scorers table
| Player | Team | Approx. Runs | Highest Score | Format Impact |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | Sri Lanka | 450+ | 179 | Dominated Test matches |
| Paul Stirling | Ireland | 200+ | 77 | Reliable in white-ball games |
| Harry Tector | Ireland | 180+ | 85 | Shined in Test opportunities |
10. Bowling Records – Sri Lanka vs Ireland
Best Bowlers Against Ireland
| Bowler | Team | Wickets (Approx.) | Best Spell | Strength |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 20+ | 7/52 | Elite spin control |
| Ramesh Mendis | Sri Lanka | 15+ | 6/70 | Off-spin specialist |
| Andy McBrine | Ireland | 8 | 4/56 | Ireland’s top red-ball bowler |
11. Highest & Lowest Team Totals
| Category | Sri Lanka | Ireland |
| Highest Test Total | 704/3d | 492 |
| Highest ODI Total | 325+ | 219 |
| Lowest ODI Total | 144 | 77 |
Ireland’s development is obvious, especially in Tests.
12. Milestones Achieved in This Rivalry
- Ireland set their highest-ever Test score (492), showing growth in batting resilience.
- Sri Lanka’s spin dominance continued to trouble Ireland consistently in all formats.
- Ireland played their first long innings in Asia, proving adaptation to subcontinental conditions.
- New Irish stars like Harry Tector and Curtis Campher emerged, highlighting team development.
13. Key Players from Both Teams
Sri Lanka:
- Angelo Mathews – Experienced all-rounder and team leader.
- Dimuth Karunaratne – Reliable top-order batsman anchoring Tests.
- Prabath Jayasuriya – Strike bowler with match-winning spin spells.
- Wanindu Hasaranga – All-rounder contributing with bat and leg-spin.
- Kusal Mendis – Stylish middle-order batsman.
Ireland:
- Paul Stirling – Aggressive opener and white-ball specialist.
- Harry Tector – Young top-order batsman showing promise.
- Curtis Campher – All-rounder with medium pace and handy batting.
- Andy Balbirnie – Captain and stabilising batsman.
- George Dockrell – Spinner and reliable bowling support.
14. Series-Wise Summary Table
| Year | Format | Host Nation | Series Winner | Result / Scoreline |
| 2007 | ODI | World Cup | Sri Lanka | Won 1–0 |
| 2014 | ODI | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Series 2–0 |
| 2019 | Test | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Won 1–0 |
| 2023 | Test | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Series 2–0 |
15. Match-Wise Timeline Table (All Formats)
| Year | Format | Venue | Match Winner | Result / Margin |
| 2007 | ODI | St. George’s | Sri Lanka | Won by 8 wickets |
| 2009 | T20I | England | Sri Lanka | Comfortable big win |
| 2014 | ODI | Colombo | Sri Lanka | Series clinched 2–0 |
| 2014 | T20I | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Won by 79 runs |
| 2016 | ODI | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Easy victory |
| 2019 | Test | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Win by innings |
| 2021 | T20 WC | UAE | Sri Lanka | Dominant performance |
| 2023 | Test 1 | Galle | Sri Lanka | Innings victory |
| 2023 | Test 2 | Galle | Sri Lanka | Innings victory |
16. Growing Significance of This Rivalry
- Sri Lanka has remained unbeaten so far, but the rivalry is gaining importance.
- Ireland is steadily improving, especially in red-ball and pink-ball cricket.
- Sri Lanka is introducing younger players, adding energy and fresh talent.
- Test matches are becoming more competitive, keeping both teams on edge.
- Fans enjoy more exciting and unpredictable matches with emerging stars.
17. Predictions for Future Contests
- Ireland may soon achieve their first win in white-ball matches against Sri Lanka.
- Test cricket contests are expected to become tougher for Sri Lanka.
- More bilateral series are likely in the coming years, giving both teams regular exposure.
- Young Irish players like Tector and Campher could deliver surprise performances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Sri Lanka played against Ireland?
Sri Lanka and Ireland have faced each other 10 times across all formats. Sri Lanka leads all encounters so far.
Has Ireland ever beaten Sri Lanka?
No, Ireland has not won any match against Sri Lanka yet. Sri Lanka maintains a perfect record of 10–0.
Which format has the most competitive matches?
Test cricket is the most competitive format. The 2023 Test series was closely contested and exciting.
When did Ireland play their first Test against Sri Lanka?
Ireland played their first Test in 2019. It was a historic moment for Irish cricket.
Who are the best bowlers in these matches?
Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis lead Sri Lanka’s bowling. Andy McBrine has been Ireland’s top performer with the ball.
Conclusion
The rivalry between Sri Lanka and Ireland reflects a story of experience versus growth. Sri Lanka has remained dominant in all formats, yet Ireland is steadily improving. Test matches are becoming more competitive, showing Ireland’s development. Fans witness thrilling contests and emerging young talent from both teams.
The white-ball formats remain under Sri Lanka’s control, but Ireland is closing the gap. Key performers like Jayasuriya, Karunaratne, Tector, and Stirling continue to shine . Future series promise exciting matches with memorable moments for cricket lovers. Overall, this rivalry highlights growth, skill, and the spirit of international cricket.
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