Pallekele, Feb 16 (.) A breathtaking unbeaten century by Pathum Nissanka — the first hundred of this edition — headlined a clinical all-round performance as Sri Lanka defeated Australia by eight wickets in the 30th Match, Group B of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium here on Monday.
After opting to bowl, Sri Lanka restricted Australia to 181 all out in 20 overs despite a blazing start from the visitors.
Australia’s innings was built around an explosive opening stand between Travis Head and skipper Mitchell Marsh. The duo came out firing, taking advantage of the hard new ball and true surface. Marsh signalled intent with a trademark pull for six off Dushmantha Chameera, while Head unfurled crisp drives and fierce cuts to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The pair raced past fifty inside the powerplay and brought up the 100-run partnership in just over eight overs. Head ended a lean run in T20Is by smashing 56 off 29 balls, striking seven fours and three sixes. Marsh was equally destructive, hammering 54 off 27 deliveries with eight fours and two sixes, repeatedly targeting the straight and mid-wicket boundaries.
Sri Lanka clawed their way back through spin. Dushan Hemantha broke the threatening stand by dismissing Head, caught at long-off, before trapping Marsh lbw shortly after his half-century. Dunith Wellalage added to the pressure by stumping Cameron Green, triggering a middle-order wobble.
Tim David fell attempting a big hit against Kamindu Mendis, while Glenn Maxwell, after launching a six and a four, perished to a sharp catch by Nissanka at backward point off Hemantha. Josh Inglis fought on with a brisk 27 but top-edged a short ball from Chameera.
The final overs belonged to Sri Lanka. Chameera, who had conceded 16 runs in his first over, returned strongly to pick up key wickets, including that of Marcus Stoinis. Maheesh Theekshana chipped in with a crucial strike, and sharp fielding led by Kusal Mendis behind the stumps resulted in two run-outs in the final over as Australia lost four wickets for just six runs in the last two overs.
Australia were bowled out off the final ball for 181 — a total that looked competitive at the halfway mark but ultimately proved inadequate.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera early to Marcus Stoinis, but Nissanka took charge of the chase with authority.
He combined elegance with brute force, launching Xavier Bartlett over long leg early in the innings before dismantling both pace and spin. Nissanka stitched a 97-run partnership with Kusal Mendis (51 off 38), who kept the pressure on with sweeps and late cuts.
After Mendis fell, Nissanka accelerated further, smashing Nathan Ellis for consecutive sixes and hammering Adam Zampa with authoritative slog-sweeps. Pavan Rathnayake provided the finishing flourish with an unbeaten 28 off 15 balls as the duo added 79 runs for the third wicket.
Nissanka brought up his century in the 18th over to thunderous applause before Rathnayake sealed the win with a boundary sweep, sparking jubilant celebrations.
The emphatic victory not only sealed Sri Lanka’s progression into the Super Eights but also strengthened their position atop Group B, while Australia were left ruing a dramatic late collapse.. . .