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KANDY: Pathum Nissanka’s sublime century helped Sri Lanka crush Australia in the 30th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Sri Lanka made a mockery of a stiff target, chasing down the 182 target in 18 overs, and losing only two wickets in the process.
With this loss, Australia will now hope to beat Oman if several other results go their way.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have qualified for the Super Eight with three wins out of three games.
After losing Kusal Perera early in the piece for one, Nissanka took the responsibility and forged a 97-run stand with Kusal Mendis.
The duo made the light work of the chase, crossing the 100-run mark in 12.2 overs.
Mendis made 51 from 38, striking a six and a half dozen fours.
Despite the wicket, Australia’s bowlers could not make a comeback as Nissanka kept them at bay with his tremendous strokeplay.
The right-hander was involved in another unbeaten partnership of 69 with Pavan Rathnayake.
Eventually, he reached his century with a flurry of boundaries and finished off the match with 100 not out from 52 balls, laced with 10 fours and five sixes.
For Australia, there was nothing much in the bowling attack with Marcus Stoinis picking up two wickets.
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head’s brisk half-centuries powered Australia to a strong total against a depleted Sri Lanka bowling lineup.
Put into bat first, Australia were bowled out for 181 on the final ball of their innings.
The openers came firing all cylinders in their must-win encounter, adding 104 in 8.3 overs.
The pair batted briskly against the Islanders’ bowling attack, which was without the services of Matheesa Pathirana, who suffered an injury blow in the opening overs.
Sri Lanka had already lost their ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
Nonetheless, the stand eventually ended with Head’s wicket, who went after scoring 54 off 27, striking two sixes and eight fours. Soon after, Marsh followed him as Sri Lanka made a strong comeback.
The right-hander hit two sixes and eight fours in his enterprising 54 from 27 balls.
It was Sri Lanka spinners Dushan Hemantha and Dunith Wellalage show in the middle overs, curtailing a power-packed middle-order.
The hosts eventually managed to hold Australia below 200, as there was no significant contribution from the opposition’s lower middle order.
For Sri Lanka, Dushan Hemantha starred with three wicket haul, whereas Dushmantha Chameera provided him support with two wickets.
