In a Group B game in Pallekele, Sri Lanka have made a strong beginning to the run chase of 182. They first did well with the ball to keep Australia down to 181 after the Aussies made a roaring start. Thereafter, Sri Lanka have lost Kusal Perera early. But the reliable duo of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis have stabilised things and put the home side in a good position and platform to maybe win the game.
Kusal Perera falls but Sri Lanka gets off to a fast start in powerplay.Â
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. Nissanka went bang as he picked it up and flicked it away over long leg for the maximum. Marcus Stoinis had ball in hand from the other end. He removed Kusal Perera for 1 off 3 balls.
Stoinis bowled a short of a length delivery wide outside the off-stump. Perera backed away for room and stayed leg side of the ball and threw his hands at that. He slashed hard and got a top edge that flew down to Ellis at deep backward point who settled underneath it and took the catch with fingers pointing upwards. Kusal Mendis came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Bartlett continued as Nissanka hammered the ball down the ground as he stepped out and slammed it past mid-on for a boundary. Nissanka hit another boundary as he got inside the line and helped it on its way down to the fine leg fence. Mendis joined in the fun as he hung back and opened the bat face and guided it to backward point for a boundary at short third man.
Nathan Ellis came into the attack now. Mendis took Ellis on and flicked it away over deep backward square leg for the maximum. Australia appealed for LBW against Mendis and saw it burnt as the ball went down the leg side. Cooper Connolly came into the attack next. Nissanka showed innovation as he reverse swept the ball over third man for the maximum. Nissanka rocked back on the short ball and cut it away between backward point and short third man for a boundary.
Marcus Stoinis came back to bowl the last over of powerplay. Mendis welcomed him back with a boundary as he guided it through backward point region beating short third man. The 50 came up for Sri Lanka in 5.1 overs. Nissanka then whacked Stoinis by hanging back and pulling it between midwicket and mid-on for a boundary. Nissanka went again as he hung back and looked to steer it down third man fence and got an outside edge that flew past Inglis and away to the third man fence.
At the end of 6 overs of powerplay, Sri Lanka were 61/1 with Nissanka unbeaten on 38 off 20 balls and Mendis unbeaten on 20 off 13 balls. We also paused for the Drinks Break.
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis drives Sri Lanka forward with the score 93/1 in 10 overs.Â
Cooper Connolly continued after the break and he bowled a good over. Adam Zampa came into the attack next as Mendis welcomed him with a pull shot between midwicket and long-on for a boundary. Mendis then rocked back and pulled it away between the gap of midwicket and long-on for a boundary. Connolly continued as Mendis played a delightful shot by stepping out and gave himself room and nailed the inside out over covers for a boundary. Mendis again got down on one knee and swept it firmly behind square for a boundary on the leg side.
Zampa continued and bowled a decent over even as Mendis managed to get a triple towards the deep backward point region as the fielder came in and cut the ball. At the end of 10 overs at the halfway stage of the chase, Sri Lanka were 93/1 in 10 overs and needed 89 off the back 10 overs with 9 wickets in hand. Mendis was batting unbeaten on 46 off 31 balls and Nissanka is unbeaten on 44 off 26 balls.
What Lies Ahead.Â
After losing Kusal Perera early, the duo of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis have repaired the job and stabilised proceedings for Sri Lanka and has kept the required rate under control. Australia needs wickets to come back in the game. At the halfway stage of the chase, Sri Lanka have their noses in front. Let’s see if they can keep it up in the second half of the chase.
An intriguing game awaits us now.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: Travis Head & Mitchell Marsh Onslaught Powers Them To 181