Nissanka’s Historic Ton Powers Sri Lanka Past Australia, Storms Into Super 8s

Pallekele, Feb 2026 : Pathum Nissanka produced one of the finest knocks in T20 World Cup history as Sri Lanka registered a commanding eight-wicket win over Australia in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group B clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The emphatic victory not only sealed Sri Lanka’s passage into the Super 8s but also left Australia on the brink of an early exit.

Chasing a challenging target of 182, Sri Lanka showcased composure and firepower in equal measure, cruising to 182/2 in just 18 overs. The chase was anchored by Nissanka’s breathtaking unbeaten century, a knock that underlined Sri Lanka’s growing dominance at home and their credentials as serious title contenders.

Earlier, Australia were put in to bat by Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka and got off to a flying start. Openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head unleashed a fierce assault during the powerplay, racing to a 104-run stand. Marsh struck 54 off 27 balls, while Head blazed his way to 56 off 29 deliveries, peppering the boundary with effortless strokeplay.

However, once the opening partnership was broken, Australia’s innings lost momentum. Sri Lanka’s spinners tightened the screws through the middle overs, with Dushan Hemantha emerging as the standout performer. His disciplined spell of 3 for 37 halted Australia’s scoring rate, while Dushmantha Chameera and the supporting bowlers ensured regular breakthroughs. Australia eventually folded for 181 in exactly 20 overs, a total that looked competitive but not impregnable.

Sri Lanka’s reply suffered an early setback when Kusal Perera was dismissed for 1, but that only brought the star of the night to the fore. Nissanka took complete control of the innings, blending elegance with brute force. He found an ideal partner in Kusal Mendis, and the duo stitched together a fluent 97-run stand that deflated the Australian bowling attack.

Nissanka reached his century in style, remaining unbeaten on 100 off just 52 balls, an innings laced with 10 fours and five towering sixes. Mendis contributed a valuable 51 off 38 balls, while Pavan Rathnayake added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 28 off 15 as Sri Lanka sealed victory with two overs to spare.

The chase rewrote several records. It was Sri Lanka’s highest successful run chase in T20 World Cups, their most successful chase against Australia in the tournament, and the first time they hunted down a target of 180 or more against a major T20 side other than Bangladesh or Zimbabwe. Nissanka’s knock was also the first century of the 2026 T20 World Cup and the first ever scored against Australia in the competition.

With three wins from three matches, Sri Lanka march confidently into the Super 8s. Australia, meanwhile, face a nervy wait, with their fate hinging on other results as the group stage reaches its climax.

Team Line-up

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Josh Inglis (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Team Maverick.