In the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 8, 2026, Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana delivered a standout moment during the Powerplay. The team was defending a total of 163/6, and getting rid of Ireland’s captain, Paul Stirling, was crucial for Sri Lanka to control the game.
T20 World Cup 2026: Maheesh Theekshana bowls out Paul Stirling in a memorable moment
The key wicket fell in the 4th over (3.2) with a precisely executed delivery. After a slow start, Stirling (6 off 13) tried to advance down the pitch to challenge the spinner. However, Theekshana anticipated this move and delivered a quick yorker that hit the base of the middle stump.
The ball zipped past Stirling’s bat before he could complete his shot, knocking the stumps and leaving the Irish captain surprised. Immediately, Theekshana celebrated his wicket with his signature ‘Archer’ gesture, mimicking shooting an arrow into the sky as his teammates rushed in to congratulate him. This celebration effectively highlighted the accuracy of his delivery and put Ireland on the back foot in their chase of 164.
Here’s the video:
