Sri Lanka Dominate Oman with 105-Run Victory in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Group Clash

Colombo, Feb 2026 : Sri Lanka produced a dominant all-round display to outclass Oman by 105 runs in their Group B encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. A blistering batting performance, followed by disciplined bowling, ensured a comprehensive win for the hosts as they continued their strong start to the tournament.

Asked to bat first by Oman skipper Jatinder Singh, Sri Lanka made full use of familiar conditions to post an imposing 225 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. The foundation of the massive total was laid by three powerful half-centuries from Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis and captain Dasun Shanaka, whose combined efforts left the Oman bowlers with little room to recover.

Sri Lanka began aggressively, with Kamil Mishara striking early boundaries to set the tempo. However, Oman drew first blood when Jay Odedra dismissed Mishara for 8, briefly checking the momentum. Pathum Nissanka then joined Kusal Mendis, and the pair focused on rebuilding the innings with sensible stroke play. Their partnership steadied the hosts, though Oman struck again when Sufyan Mehmood trapped Nissanka lbw for 13, reducing Sri Lanka to 58 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

From that point on, Sri Lanka seized control. Pavan Rathnayake walked in with clear intent and quickly shifted gears, combining fluency with brute force. Alongside Mendis, he launched a calculated counterattack that pushed the scoring rate sharply upward. Rathnayake, in particular, targeted the spinners, showcasing his range with confident sweeps and lofted shots. A dramatic tenth over, which yielded 17 runs and included two no-balls and a free-hit boundary, highlighted the pressure Sri Lanka exerted on the Oman attack.

Rathnayake went on to register his maiden T20 international half-century in style, racing to 60 off just 28 deliveries before being bowled by Jiten Ramanandi. His innings provided the spark Sri Lanka needed to set up a late onslaught.

While Rathnayake played the aggressor, Kusal Mendis held the innings together with composure and creativity. Rotating the strike effectively and finding gaps with ease, Mendis ensured Sri Lanka never lost momentum. His well-paced 61 off 45 balls anchored the innings and allowed the batters around him to play freely.

The final flourish came from skipper Dasun Shanaka, who delivered a breathtaking display of power-hitting. Shanaka tore into the Oman bowlers, smashing five towering sixes and two fours in a sensational 50 off just 20 balls — the fastest T20I half-century by a Sri Lankan. Kamindu Mendis added to the carnage with three huge sixes in the closing overs, as Sri Lanka surged past the 220 mark to finish at a formidable 225 for 5.

Chasing a daunting target, Oman’s reply never gained traction. The early loss of Aamir Kaleem for 6 and captain Jatinder Singh for 1 inside the first two overs left them on the back foot immediately. With the required run rate soaring, pressure mounted quickly on the visiting side.

Mohammad Nadeem stood firm amid the collapse, compiling a patient unbeaten 53 off 56 balls. Wasim Ali provided some resistance with a brisk 27 off 20 deliveries, but the lack of sustained partnerships hurt Oman badly. Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintained tight lines and varied their pace cleverly, denying the batters any chance of a revival.

Dushmantha Chameera was outstanding with the ball, using his pace and accuracy to claim 2 for 19 in a brief but impactful spell. Maheesh Theekshana’s economical bowling and Dunith Wellalage’s timely breakthroughs further strangled Oman’s chase. Run-outs and sharp fielding compounded Oman’s troubles, and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

Eventually, Oman were restricted to 120 for 9 in their 20 overs, conceding a heavy 105-run defeat. The result underlined Sri Lanka’s depth, balance and intent in the competition, sending a clear warning to other teams in Group B.

Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 225/5 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 61, Pavan Rathnayake 60, Dasun Shanaka 50; Jiten Ramanandi 2-41) beat Oman 120/9 in 20 overs (Mohammad Nadeem 53*, Wasim Ali 27; Maheesh Theekshana 2-11, Dushmantha Chameera 2-19) by 105 runs.