Pathum Nissanka stood up when it mattered and he took the game away from Australia. Pathum Nissanka looked really determined out there and led from the front with his whirlwind century. Sri Lanka won the toss and fielded and Australia were 70 in 6 overs and 104/0 in 8.2 overs with both Marsh and Head getting fifties but Sri Lanka bounced back through Hemantha’s 3 wickets to limit Australia to 181 in 20 overs.
In reply, it was the Pathum Nissanka show. Kusal Perera fell early but Kusal Mendis scored a half century while Nissanka carrid his bat and scored a masterful ton and carried his bat while Pavan Rathnayake applied the finishing touches as Sri Lanka got over the line in 18 overs winning by 8 wickets with 2 overs to spare. Australia on the brink of elimination while Sri Lanka are through to Super 8s.
Fifties from Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head helps Australia post 181
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, captain Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head came out to bat for Australia while Dushmantha Chameera had ball in hand for Sri Lanka. The Aussies came out all guns blazing and took the attack to the Lankan bowlers. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh both were aggressive and took down the bowlers. Matheesha Pathirana injured his left hamstring and left the field injured taken help by the physio.
Australia took full advantage of it and attacked Theekshana for 20 in an over as Australia raced to 70/0 in the powerplay of 6 overs. But the carnage did not stop there as the duo put on 104 inside 9 overs and at this stage 200 looked like very much on the cards. The score was 104 when the first wicket fell as Travis Head fell for 56 off 29 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes to his name to Dushan Hemantha. Cameron Green came out to bat next. Green struggled to stay out there as just 6 runs were added to the tally before Green fell for 3 off 7 balls to Dunith Wellalage.
Australia were 110/2 in 10 overs. Tim David came out to bat next. Just 6 runs were added to the total before the well set Marsh departed for 54 off 27 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes to his name to Hemantha. Keeper batter Josh Inglis joined the crease. David and Inglis then added another 14 runs to the tally before David fell for 6 off 5 balls with one boundary to his name to Kamindu Mendis. Glenn Maxwell came out to bat next.
Maxwell and Inglis now joined forces and tried to rebuild proceedings but after adding 30 runs to the score, Maxwell fell for 22 off 15 balls with one four and one six to his name as Nissanka took a brilliant catch off Hemantha. Marcus Stoinis came out to bat next. Just 14 runs were added to the tally before Inglis fell for 27 off 22 balls with 3 fours to his name to Chameera. Cooper Connolly came out to bat next. Just 3 runs were added to the tally before Connolly fell for 3 off 4 balls to Maheesh Theekshana. Xavier Bartlett came out to bat next.
Another 3 runs were added to the tally before Stoinis fell for 4 off 6 balls to Chameera. Nathan Ellis came out to bat next. Bartlett too fell soon at the same score as he fell for a bronze duck run out by Kusal Mendis. Adam Zampa came out to bat next. Just one run was added to the tally before Zampa fell for 1 off 1 ball with a run out. Nathan Ellis was unbeaten on 0 off 2 balls. Australia collapsed and were bowled out for 181 in 20 overs. 5 extras given by the fielding side.
Sri Lankan bowlers came back well with the ball. Dushan Hemantha was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/37 in 4 overs. Dushmantha Chameera finished with 2/36 in 4 overs. Dunith Wellalage finished with 1/33 in 4 overs. Kamindu Mendis finished with 1/19 in 2 overs. Maheesh Theekshana finished with 1/37 in 4 overs. Dasun Shanaka bowled 1.2 overs for 16 runs and Matheesha Pathirana finished with 4 balls 3 runs. This meant Sri Lanka needed 182 runs to win off 20 overs.
Pathum Nissanka’s superlative century powers Sri Lanka to a win and place in Super 8s
Chasing 182 for the win, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera came out to open for Sri Lanka while Xavier Bartlett had ball in hand for Australia. Kusal went early as he fell for 1 off 3 balls when the score was 8 on the board to Marcus Stoinis. Kusal Mendis came to the crease next. But this was the only joy for the Aussies as Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka joined forces and then started the show for the ages.
Kusal Mendis counter-attacked for the Lankans while that allowed Nissanka to get himself in. The got themselves in and gradually accelerated and took the game away from Australia. In the powerplay, Sri Lanka were 61/1 in 6 overs and then they just kept on going. They aced the middle phase of the game and stabilised things after the early wicket and laid the platform for the win. The duo put on 97 runs for the second wicket before Menids fell for 51 off 36 balls with 6 fours and one six to his name to Marcus Stoinis. Pavan Rathnayake came out to bat next.
Then there was no looking back as Rathnayake also had a positive intent. But after Mendis’ dismissal Nissanka switched gears as well. Rathnayake played his part, there is no doubt about that. But it was the Nissanka show and what clean hitting by the Sri Lankan right-hander to just flatten the Aussies. Nissanka upped the ante and got his well-deserved second T20I century. The duo put on 79 runs off 34 balls unbeaten with Rathnayake hitting the winning runs.
Nissanka carried his bat and remained unbeaten on 100 off 52 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes to his name while Rathnayake finished with an unbeaten 28 off 15 balls with 6 fours to his name as Sri Lanka finished with 184/2 in 18 overs with 4 extras given by the fielding side. Sri Lanka qualified for the Super 8s.
Australian bowling was lacklustre to say the least. Marcus Stoinis finished with 2/46 in 4 overs. The others remained wicketless. Xavier Bartlett finished with 0/22 in 2 overs. Nathan Ellis finished with 0/32 in 3 overs. Cooper Connolly finished with 0/27 in 3 overs. Adam Zampa finished with 0/41 in 4 overs. Glenn Maxwell finished with 0/16 in 2 overs. So, Sri Lanka win by 8 wickets with 2 overs to spare. They move into the Super 8s while Australia are on the brink of elimination. Pathum Nissanka was awarded the Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead
So, Sri Lanka with a humongous win to qualify for the Super 8s. Australia on the brink of elimination. Australia will face Oman on Friday night while Sri Lanka faces Zimbabwe on Thursday. More action coming your way on Tuesday i.e. tomorrow. We start our fixtures in Chennai where New Zealand will take on Canada in a Group D game at 11 AM IST. Then we have the crucial Ireland vs Zimbabwe game from 3 PM IST live from Pallekele in Group B. The evening game features Scotland taking on Nepal in Mumbai in a Group C game. Both teams are out of the tournament already.
So, a lot of action coming your way on Tuesday as well.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: Sri Lanka Makes A Solid Start In Big Run Chase.