World Twenty20:Mahela Jayawardene produced his best score of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament but failed to prevent Ireland restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total at Lord's. Sri Lanka's former captain hit a superbly-judged 78 off 53 balls to help his side recover from the loss of two wickets inside the first four overs of their Super Eights match.
But hopes were fading fast when O'Brien became the third of three victims in two overs and there were still 54 required from the final five with six wickets intact.
A double success for slingy paceman Lasith Malinga in the 17th over should have closed the door on the competition for the associate country.
But 18 runs off the penultimate over, sent down by Nuwan Kulasekera, kept the packed house interested.