Sri Lanka pushed Australia to the brink of elimination with an eight-wicket victory at Pallekele, powered by Pathum Nissanka’s magnificent unbeaten 100 – the first century of the 2026 T20 World Cup – as they chased down 182 with two overs to spare.
After Travis Head (56) and returning captain Mitchell Marsh (54) blazed to a 100-run opening stand in just 8.2 overs, Australia’s innings imploded spectacularly, collapsing from 110/2 to 181 all out as Sri Lanka’s spinners, led by Dushan Hemantha’s 3/37, dismantled the middle and lower order.
Nissanka then produced a masterclass, reaching his hundred off 52 balls with a boundary off Adam Zampa before Pavan Rathnayake (28* off 15) finished the job. The 2021 champions now sit third in Group B with their Super 8s fate no longer in their own hands, while Sri Lanka secured qualification with the comprehensive victory.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Australia vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup, Group B |
| Venue | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele |
| Result | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
| Australia | 181 (20 overs) |
| Sri Lanka | 184/2 (18 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Pathum Nissanka (100* off 52) |
| Toss | Sri Lanka won and chose to field |
First Innings Highlights
Australia exploded to 70/0 in the powerplay as Mitchell Marsh (54 off 27, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Travis Head (56 off 29, 7 fours, 3 sixes) dominated. Marsh smashed five consecutive boundaries off Maheesh Theekshana while Head ended his 13-innings fifty drought.
Their 100-run stand came in just 8.2 overs – the fastest team hundred in T20 World Cups in Sri Lanka. However, Dushan Hemantha triggered a dramatic collapse by dismissing Head caught at long-off.
Cameron Green (3) was stumped off Dunith Wellalage, and Marsh fell LBW to Hemantha. From 110/2, Australia crumbled to 181 all out, losing 8 wickets for 71 runs in the final 10 overs.
Glenn Maxwell (22) and Josh Inglis (27 with 3 fours) briefly resisted, but Hemantha’s exceptional spell (3/37), aided by Pathum Nissanka’s stunning diving catch, and Dushmantha Chameera’s tight bowling (2/36) strangled the innings completely as the lower order collapsed.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Best Batsman | Travis Head | 56 runs (29 balls, 7×4, 3×6) |
| Best Bowler | Dushan Hemantha | 4-0-37-3 |
Second Innings Highlights
Despite losing Kusal Perera (1) caught off Marcus Stoinis in the second over, Pathum Nissanka immediately seized control with boundaries off Bartlett.
Kusal Mendis (51 off 38, 6 fours, 1 six) provided excellent support in a 96-run partnership, rotating strike while Nissanka accelerated. Nissanka reached fifty off 32 balls and continued attacking, smashing Adam Zampa for consecutive boundaries.
He brought up the tournament’s first century – 100* off 52 balls – with a four off Zampa, celebrating with arms outstretched before silencing critics.
Stoinis dismissed Mendis at 113/2, but Pavan Rathnayake (28* off 15 with 3 fours) struck back-to-back sixes off Nathan Ellis, including a cut over deep backward point and a shovel over deep backward square leg. Nissanka fittingly sealed victory with the winning boundary off Zampa as Sri Lanka cruised to 184/2 in 18 overs with 12 balls remaining.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Best Batsman | Pathum Nissanka | 100* runs (52 balls, 8×4, 4×6) |
| Best Bowler | Marcus Stoinis | 4-0-46-2 |
