Kandy, February 16 – Skipper Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head scored fifties, but a clinical bowling display from Sri Lanka reduced the visiting team to 181 all out in 20 overs in the 30th match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Monday.
Asked to bat first on a fast wicket, captain Marsh, who returned after an injury break, paired up with opener Travis Head, stitching an opening partnership of 104 runs off 52 balls. Australia recorded their fourth-highest Power-play total in T20 World Cup history, scoring 70/0 in the first six overs.
Marsh (54) and Head (56) showcased their power-hitting skills, dismissing all the bowlers, including a 20-run sixth over that put pressure on the hosts. This aggressive play not only lit up Pallekele but also left Sri Lanka struggling, with Matheesha Pathirana having to leave the field due to a left leg injury.
Head, being the aggressor, reached his fifty in 27 balls, but soon lost his wicket to Dushan Hemantha, hitting a maximum attempt to long-off. However, Marsh continued his demolition act, and he too reached his fifty in 25 balls, following Head's example, as he was trapped by Hemantha again after Dunith Wellalage dismissed Cameron Green for mere 3 runs.
Sri Lankan spinners, including Hemantha, Wellalage, and Kamindu Mendis, were key, removing dangerous Tim David (6) with a flighted delivery.
The momentum quickly changed as the hosts applied pressure with steady spin bowling. Australia fell behind and reached 136/4 at the end of 14 overs. With each dot ball and wicket, the crowd supported Sri Lanka, cheering loudly and boosting the energy in the stadium.
Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell looked to counterattack and managed to get some, but Maxwell was undone by Pathum Nissanka's screamer after he had dropped a sitter off Dushmantha Chameera in the previous over. Guiding the backward point, Nissanka jumped to take a blinder after Maxwell (22) looked to play it over him. Hemantha ended his spell with figures of 3/37, which is now his best in T20Is.
Australia completely lost their ground in the last overs, losing the last eight wickets for 72 runs.
Brief scores:
Australia 181 all out in 20 overs (Travis Head 56, Mitchell Marsh 54; Dushan Hemantha 3-37, Dushmantha Chameera 2-33) against Sri Lanka
