Kandy, February 16 – Pathum Nissanka made history, becoming the second Sri Lankan batsman to score a century in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 as the co-hosts defeated Australia by eight wickets in the 30th match at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Monday.
Nissanka remained undefeated on 100 off 52 balls, helping Pavan Rathnayake guide the co-hosts to victory.
The co-hosts' chase of 182 got off to a poor start after Kusal Perera was dismissed by Marcus Stoinis in the second over.
Despite losing Perera early, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis got off to a strong start, hitting boundaries and putting Australia under pressure. By the end of the Powerplay, the co-hosts had scored 61 runs for the first wicket, marking their third-highest Powerplay total against Australia in T20Is.
The co-hosts continued to dominate as Sri Lanka maintained pressure. This followed a record-breaking Powerplay phase that brought the combined total for Sri Lanka and Australia to 131, the highest in T20 World Cup history.
A remarkable partnership between Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka was key, with the duo scoring 87 runs, the highest for Sri Lanka against Australia in T20Is. Their strong performance helped maintain the momentum for the hosts.
Earlier, asked to bat first, captain Mitchell Marsh and opener Travis Head put on a 104-run opening partnership off 52 balls. Australia recorded their fourth-highest Powerplay total in T20 World Cup history, scoring 70/0 in the first six overs.
Marsh (54) and Head (56) showcased their power-hitting, taking all the bowlers to cleaners, including a 20-run sixth over that put pressure on the co-hosts. This aggressive play not only lit up Pallekele but also made it difficult for Sri Lanka, with Matheesha Pathirana having to leave the field due to a leg injury.
Head, being the aggressor, reached his fifty in 27 deliveries but soon lost his wicket to Dushan Hemantha, carving it to long-off in an attempt for a maximum. However, Marsh continued his demolition act, and he too reached his fifty in 25 deliveries before being trapped in front by Hemantha.
Sri Lankan spinners were key, including Hemantha, Wellalage, and Kamindu Mendis, who removed dangerous Tim David (6) with a flighted delivery. The momentum quickly changed as the hosts applied pressure with steady spin bowling. Australia completely lost ground in the last overs, losing the last eight wickets for 72 runs.
Dushan Hemantha ended his spell with figures of 3/37, which was his best in T20Is.
Mendis and Nissanka continued to add runs quickly as both batters reached their fifties in quick succession. Nissanka achieved his sixth score of over 50 in T20 World Cups, tying with Tillakaratne Dilshan and trailing only Mahela Jayawardene's seven. Mendis was close behind with his fifth score of over 50 in the tournament's history.
However, the big blow came for the co-hosts as a change in spell worked for Australia, Marcus Stoinis bowling from the other end removed Mendis (51) in deep mid-wicket with a tossed-up delivery. Pavan Rathnayake, coming next, carved the first ball over covers for a four and then followed it with a cut past wicketkeeper Inglis.
It was a huge over for Sri Lanka as Nissanka attacked Stoinis, hitting three boundaries and a six to rack up 20 runs from his final over. Stoinis ended with figures of 2-46, but the damage in that over changed the momentum in Sri Lanka's favour.
Rathnayake survived a stumping chance off Maxwell after smoking him for a boundary, followed by a missed chance from Inglis behind the wicket, only for a boundary.
Nissanka produced a sensational hundred under immense pressure, becoming only the second Sri Lankan opener to score a century in the T20 World Cup. He reached his ton in just 52 balls, sending the crowd into raptures as the stadium rose to its feet in appreciation of a truly special innings.
Rathnayake soon hit the winning runs as co-hosts enter the Super 8s with a massive eight-wicket win over Australia.
Brief scores:
Australia 181 all out in 20 overs (Travis Head 56, Mitchell Marsh 54; Dushan Hemantha 3-37, Dushmantha Chameera 2-33) lost to Sri Lanka 184/2 in 18 overs (Pathum Nissanka 100 not out, Kusal Mendis 51; Marcus Stoinis 2-46) by eight wickets
