Pathum Nissanka’s powerful century has taken Sri Lanka to the Super-8 of T20 World Cup 2026. In the 30th league match played against Australia, Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets. Nissanka made an important contribution in helping the team cross the victory line by scoring 100* runs in 52 balls with the help of 10 fours and 5 sixes. Apart from this, Kusal Mendis scored 51 runs.

With this defeat, it became very difficult for Australia to reach the Super-8. In the previous match, Zimbabwe had defeated Australia by 23 runs. Now Australia will have to depend on the results of other matches to reach the Super-8. After the match, Australia, present in Group B, is at third position in the table with only one win after 3 matches.

Australia has to play its last league match against Oman on 20 February. Along with registering victory in this match, Australia will also have to depend on the results of others. Whereas Zimbabwe, which is at number two, has won both the matches so far. Now Zimbabwe has to play the next match against Ireland. If Zimbabwe beats Ireland in its league match, then their team will reach the Super-8.

match status

Talking about the match, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl. This decision of the team proved to be absolutely right. The Australian team, which came to bat first, was all out for 181 runs in 20 overs. Captain Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head played half-century innings for the team. However, apart from these two, no third batsman could even touch the 30-run mark.

Sri Lanka’s wonder in run chase

Sri Lanka came out for run chase and won by scoring 184/2 runs in just 18 overs. Pathum Nissanka played a century innings for the team. Apart from this, Kusal Mendis played a half-century innings. During this period, Australia’s bowlers looked a complete flop. Only Marcus Stoinis took 2 wickets for the Kangaroo team. All the other bowlers remained wicketless.

In the 30th league match of T20 World Cup 2026, the teams of Australia and Sri Lanka are facing each other at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. The Australian team, which came to bat first in the match, was all out for 181 runs in 20 overs. Captain Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head played half-century innings for the team. Whereas for Sri Lanka, Dushan Hemantha took maximum 3 wickets.

Let us tell you that after losing the last match against Zimbabwe, this is a do or die match for Australia. This is Australia playing its third match. In the last 2 matches, the Kangaroo team won one and lost the other. Now to keep the hopes of Super-8 alive, Australia will have to win this match.

Australia’s innings

In the match, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl. Coming to bat first, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head gave a great start to Australia and made a partnership of 104 runs (51 balls) for the first wicket. Thanks to this partnership, Australia touched the 100-run mark in just 8.1 overs without losing any wicket.

After this score, it seemed that the Kangaroo team would easily cross the 200-run mark, but after the fall of the first wicket, the team fell apart like a pack of cards.

Lost 9 wickets for just 77 runs

After losing the first wicket for 104 runs, the team lost the remaining 9 wickets for only 77 runs. In this way the team was all out for 181 runs. Apart from Marsh and Head, no other batsman of the team could cross the 30-run mark.

Sri Lankan bowling

Dushan Hemantha took maximum 3 wickets for Sri Lanka. During this he spent 37 runs in 4 overs. Apart from this, Dushmantha Chameera took 2 wickets in his account. Rest Mahish Teekshana, Dunith Vellalage and Kamindu Mendis took 1 wicket each.