Pathum Nissanka delivered a commanding century to guide Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory over Australia. This defeat has pushed Australia to the edge of elimination, forcing them to rely on other match outcomes to secure qualification for the Super 8 stage.
Chasing a venue-record target of 182, Sri Lanka accomplished the task in 18 overs, powered by Nissanka’s undefeated innings and Kusal Mendis’s rapid 51 from 38 deliveries. This comprehensive victory has left Australia’s tournament prospects in serious jeopardy. Pavan Rathnayake contributed an unbeaten 28 from 15 balls to the successful chase. Nissanka’s devastating innings featured 10 boundaries and five maximums.
Australia must now secure a commanding victory against Oman in their concluding fixture while hoping both Sri Lanka and Ireland defeat Zimbabwe to maintain any realistic qualification chances. Should Zimbabwe prevail against Ireland on Thursday, Australia faces elimination before even taking the field against Oman in their final group encounter.
Previously, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head produced explosive half-centuries before Sri Lanka mounted a comeback to dismiss Australia for 181. Nissanka’s Heroic Century Propelled Australia To Close Of Elimination .
TOSS
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field.
PLAYING XI
Sri Lanka (Playing XI):
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka(c), Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
Australia (Playing XI):
Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim David, Josh Inglis(w), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
AUSTRALIA
Mitchell Marsh paired with Travis Head at the opening positions after Australia was asked to bat first. The partnership immediately seized control with a 16-run first over establishing momentum. Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when Matheesha Pathirana departed after four deliveries of his opening over due to a suspected left hamstring strain. Dasun Shanaka completed the over while Marsh and Head continued their boundary assault. The pair constructed a fifty-run partnership before Marsh targeted Maheesh Theekshana for five straight boundaries in the PowerPlay’s final over – a period yielding 70 runs for Australia.
Dushan Hemantha and Dunith Wellalage subsequently faced the Head-Marsh onslaught. Head achieved his fifty from 27 balls before bringing up Australia’s century with a powerful slog sweep over wide long on. However, when Hemantha delivered one beyond his reach, the left-hander was caught at long off, concluding a 104-run stand.
Australia appeared positioned for a formidable total at this juncture. However, circumstances deteriorated rapidly and dramatically.
Cameron Green getting stumped when he missed Wellalage’s ball, and Hemantha got Marsh out lbw using DRS only after the Australian captain made his fifty. Basically, Hemantha could have gotten Josh Inglis out on the very next ball, but Kusal Mendis messed up the same easy stumping chance. Sri Lanka’s spinners further troubled the batting side as Tim David hit a high catch to long off, getting himself out.
When wickets fell regularly, the scoring rate only went down, but Glenn Maxwell hit some good shots to score runs freely. Inglis surely played well, but Pathum Nissanka took a spectacular jumping catch at backward point to dismiss Maxwell. Moreover, Chameera soon got Inglis out with a bouncer. Moreover, maheesh Theekshana surely delivered a masterful performance in the 19th over, giving away only two runs. Moreover, he dismissed Cooper Connolly while bowling perfect yorkers with great control. Pathirana did not come back to play but we are seeing that his absence was not a problem as Chameera bowled an excellent final over, where Theekshana took a brilliant catch at short third and there were only two run outs as Australia got all out for 181.
SRI LANKA-
Sri Lanka needed to score 182 runs after getting Australia all out, and Nissanka definitely showed he meant business by actually hitting a six over fine leg in the first over itself. Kusal Perera came into the team for Kamil Mishara and actually got out in the next over, but everyone was definitely watching Nissanka hit the Australian bowlers all around the ground with great shots. Also, kusal Mendis supported him well as per the team’s plan. Sri Lanka reached 61/1 in the PowerPlay regarding their strong start.
Mendis quickly caught up with his partner and even got more runs than him, as we are seeing Australia’s spin bowlers were bowling too fast and not hitting the right spots only. Both batters actually reached their fifties quickly and this was definitely bad news for Australia. Stoinis actually broke the 97-run partnership but Pavan Rathnayake definitely started with back-to-back boundaries. The momentum never dropped at all.
With 61 runs needed from the last six overs, Nissanka actually hit harder and definitely smashed Stoinis for 20 runs in one over as Sri Lanka took control of the match. After that, it was surely only a matter of time before Rathnayake got out, even though he escaped two stumping opportunities. Moreover, he was lucky when his foot stayed just behind the crease and then Josh Inglis missed an easy chance right after.
Nissanka took control of the night regarding Australia’s bowling attack, hitting two big sixes off Ellis by moving back and hitting over third man, then walking across to scoop the ball over fine leg.
Basically, he played all his shots and scored his second T20I hundred the same way, making the Pallekele crowd cheer loudly. Rathyanake actually finished with a boundary and Sri Lanka definitely won easily with two overs left.
Brief Scores:
Australia made only 181 runs in 20 overs with Travis Head scoring 56 and Mitchell Marsh getting 54, but Sri Lanka won easily by making 184 runs in only 18 overs with Pathum Nissanka hitting 100 runs.
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