Spin ace Muttiah Muralitharan and seamer Farveez Maharoof wreaked havoc as the inexperienced Ireland were all out for a mere 77 in 27.4 overs in a Super Eight match of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The Irishmen had a steady start to their innings after Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena won the toss and asked the minnows to bat first.The Irish openers William Porterfield and Jeremy Bray, who had provided a solid start in their upset win against Bangladesh, prevented any damage till the eighth over.Ireland were 28 for no loss when Maharoof delivered the first blow by removing Bray (20 off 29 balls), who was looking dangerous by hitting four boundaries.In the same over, Maharoof scalped Andre Botha and Eoin Morgan in two consecutive balls to reduce Ireland to 28 for 3.However, the Sri Lankan was deprived of a hat-trick feat as he had to wait a while before claiming his next victim, Porterfield (17 off 51 balls).Once the Irish icon of patience was gone, Muralitharan cast his web of spin and bamboozled Niel O'Brien (4) and Kenneth Caroll (0) in one over. Mahela top-scored for Sri Lanka with 39 not out as the team walked away with a comfortable eight-wicket win.
