'Unreal Fixing': Barry McCarthy's Marathon Over Vs Sri Lanka Leaves Internet Baffled

Veteran Ireland medium-pacer Barry McCarthy’s never-ending over against Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup amused and bemused the internet, after his bowling left him and his team flabbergasted in their tournament opener in Colombo on Sunday, February 8.

McCarthy’s over left fans both baffled and amazed: he bowled 11 deliveries, including four wides and a no-ball, conceded 19 runs and took two wickets off just two balls.

The chaos started when McCarthy came on to bowl the 19th over of Sri Lanka’s innings. He began with a high full toss above the shoulder to Kamindu Mendis, called a no-ball by the umpire.

The ball deflected past wicket-keeper Lorcan Tucker and went over the boundary for four, giving Sri Lanka five runs without a legal ball.

McCarthy

then bowled consecutive wides, after which Mendis smashed the free hit for six, bringing the total to 15 runs from just one legal ball. The latter added two runs off the next delivery before McCarthy bowled another wide.

On the following ball, Mendis ran two more runs before being caught by George Dockrell on the next delivery.

Barry Mccarthy surely has earned big bucks tonight. Unreal fixing from @cricketireland #SLvIRE

— VIPER (@KillerViperr) February 8, 2026

Mendis fell for 44 off 19 deliveries and McCarthy struck again by dismissing Dasun Shanaka for a duck on the penultimate ball. After another wide, he finished the over with a dot ball to the new batter Wanindu Hasaranga.

Academy Alert 🚨
Ireland Barry McCarthy bowled an
11-ball over but two wickets in between 💔 pic.twitter.com/LncGhkbQjD

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) February 8, 2026

By the end of the over, McCarthy had bowled 11 deliveries, conceded 19 runs and taken two wickets in two balls, all in a single chaotic over.

Watching the Ireland cricket team for the first time in years because I got sick of watching pampered fat boys being absolutely shit and how in gods name is Barry McCarthy still bowling at the death for them??? #T20WorldCup

— Ger (@GerOnSport) February 8, 2026

Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis impressed with the bat, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana’s incisive spin bowling guided Sri Lanka to a 20-run victory over Ireland.