BALAGOLLA (Dunya News) – Sri Lanka booked their place in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding eight-wicket win over Australia after chasing down a target of 182 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
A blistering century from Pathum Nissanka headlined the run chase as the hosts overhauled the total with authority and kept their unbeaten momentum intact.
The hero of the night, Pathum Nissanka, finishes an incredible chase with an unbeaten 100*! A clinical performance to take down the Aussies. #LionsRoar #SLvAUS #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/9viyZZFTxf
— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) February 16, 2026Australia were restricted to 181 after a dramatic collapse, while Sri Lanka reached the target for the loss of just two wickets, powered by aggressive top-order batting and disciplined spin bowling.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that looked costly early on as Australian openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head launched a fierce assault. The pair added more than 100 runs for the first wicket and powered Australia to 70 without loss in the powerplay, their best start of the tournament.
Marsh smashed 54 off 27 balls with eight fours and two sixes before being trapped lbw by Dushan Hemantha. Head continued the charge with 56 from 29 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes. At 105 for one after nine overs, Australia looked set for a total well beyond 200.
The momentum shifted sharply once the spinners were introduced. Hemantha broke through and triggered a slide, while Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers squeezed the scoring rate through the middle overs. Australia lost their last five wickets for just seven runs and were bowled out for 181, adding only 31 runs across a five-over stretch after their flying start.
Dushmantha Chameera supported the fightback with two wickets, while Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis picked up one each. Nissanka also produced a stunning leaping catch to dismiss Glenn Maxwell after he had been dropped earlier.
Australia struck early in the reply when Marcus Stoinis removed Kusal Perera for one in the second over. That breakthrough did little to slow Sri Lanka’s progress as Nissanka took control of the innings with a high-tempo display.
Batting with authority square of the wicket and down the ground, Nissanka dominated the bowling and kept the required rate in check throughout the powerplay and middle overs. He shared a 97-run stand for the second wicket with Kusal Mendis, who made 51 before falling to Stoinis.
Nissanka accelerated further after reaching his half-century and brought up a 52-ball hundred, guiding the chase deep and finishing the contest with calculated strokeplay. He later said the surface allowed him to play his natural game and that chasing at Pallekele typically becomes easier as the match progresses.
Super Eight race
The result confirmed Sri Lanka’s qualification for the Super Eight stage while tightening the equation for Australia, who now depend on other group results to keep their campaign alive.
Playing XIs
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.