184/2 (18.0)
CR : 10.22
181/10 (20.0)
CR : 9.05
Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
P Nissanka
100(52)
Highest Individual Score vs Australia in T20 WCs:
100* - Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Pallekele, 2026, Tonight*
94 - Umar Akmal (Pakistan), Mirpur, 2014
92* - Devon Conway (New Zealand), Sydney, 2022
100* - Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Pallekele, 2026, Tonight*
94 - Umar Akmal (Pakistan), Mirpur, 2014
92* - Devon Conway (New Zealand), Sydney, 2022
Trivia: Pathum Nissanka’s hundred tonight is the first century in the T20 World Cup since 2022. The previous one was scored by Glenn Phillips, who made 104 against Sri Lanka at the SCG.
Highest Successful Chases in Sri Lanka in T20Is:
215/5 by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Colombo (RPS), 2018 (T-215)
184/2 by Sri Lanka vs Australia, Pallekele, 2026 (T-182), Tonight*
180/5 by West Indies vs Sri Lanka, Dambulla, 2024 (T-180)
215/5 by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Colombo (RPS), 2018 (T-215)
184/2 by Sri Lanka vs Australia, Pallekele, 2026 (T-182), Tonight*
180/5 by West Indies vs Sri Lanka, Dambulla, 2024 (T-180)
Sri Lanka have officially booked their place in the Super 8s with this win. The qualification race now gets even more interesting as Zimbabwe will also advance if they manage to win one of their remaining two games. If that happens, it would confirm Australia’s exit from the tournament.
Player of the Match: Pathum Nissanka
Pathum Nissanka (Player of the Match): [Translated from Sinhalese by Jehan Mubarak] (How did he do that?) The wicket played really well today, which allowed me to play my natural game. I am very happy to get a hundred and take my team home.
(What was the strategy going into the chase?) We needed a good powerplay. Me and Kusal Mendis had a really good partnership in the middle, and from there it was just to continue my innings and take my team over the line.
(Did the wicket get better to bat on in the 2nd Innings?) Usually, it's a bit easier batting second here in Pallekele and the wicket seemed to get better as the game progressed.
(Was there any dew?) Not much dew.
(How do you continue this form?) Well, I was just waiting for the balls to come into my zone. I was happy that I got several balls which came into my strengths and I was able to put it away to the fence."
(What was the strategy going into the chase?) We needed a good powerplay. Me and Kusal Mendis had a really good partnership in the middle, and from there it was just to continue my innings and take my team over the line.
(Did the wicket get better to bat on in the 2nd Innings?) Usually, it's a bit easier batting second here in Pallekele and the wicket seemed to get better as the game progressed.
(Was there any dew?) Not much dew.
(How do you continue this form?) Well, I was just waiting for the balls to come into my zone. I was happy that I got several balls which came into my strengths and I was able to put it away to the fence."
Mitchell Marsh (Australia Captain): "(About the score at the halfway mark) I thought it was a competitive total at the halfway mark. We probably left ourselves a few short after the start we had. It is disappointing. Well played to Sri Lanka. They outplayed us tonight.
(On their finish after being 110/2 at the halfway) We know that at our best, we can make big scores. We just lost our way towards the back end. Couldn't get the partnership going. Sri Lanka bowled really well towards the back end. We knew we were a few short in the end, as I said earlier. Not much else to say except that Sri Lanka outplayed us.
(On what he will tell the team going back into the dressing room post this kind of game) It is a devastated group. We're in the lap of the gods now, I think, with the way it has shaped up. A lot of emotions in the room right now. We haven't been at our best. We will now sit and watch the ZIM vs IRE game. We are disappointed bunch at the moment."
(On their finish after being 110/2 at the halfway) We know that at our best, we can make big scores. We just lost our way towards the back end. Couldn't get the partnership going. Sri Lanka bowled really well towards the back end. We knew we were a few short in the end, as I said earlier. Not much else to say except that Sri Lanka outplayed us.
(On what he will tell the team going back into the dressing room post this kind of game) It is a devastated group. We're in the lap of the gods now, I think, with the way it has shaped up. A lot of emotions in the room right now. We haven't been at our best. We will now sit and watch the ZIM vs IRE game. We are disappointed bunch at the moment."
Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka Captain): "(Was that the best performance from Sri Lanka) Umm, you can say that it's one of the best performances from us in the recent past. I am really happy with the way how the innings went.
(What did he say which made his side comeback so well in the 1st Innings?) See, we were very positive still after losing Pathirana in the powerplay. So, we had that confidence. Of course we knew how the wicket would play. Each and everyone had their body language very high today. It's a very big plus point for us. Everybody wanted to contribute somehow for the team. Chameera, Theekshana, Hemantha - all did a brilliant job. Really happy with the way everyone contributed.
(Bowling unit doing so well despite missing Hasaranga) Yeah, we are really missing Hasaranga and now, of course Pathirana. It's a big miss for us but at the same time, luckily we have got a cover for Hasaranga. So, if he (Hasaranga) was there today, things would have been different. You know that he delivers for the team whenever he gets the ball in his hand. We can't control that unfortunately but we will take the good things from here especially Pathum's ton. We knew that a big knock of his was due. Hopefully, he continues this for the rest of the tournament.
I know there was a lot of chats when we opted to bowl first. We knew that one side the boundary is a bit short. We knew that we have a chance if we can restrict them under 170-180.
(How good it is to have a 'Q' next to your name?) It is wonderful to see. After many years, we have finally made it to the next round. We have a really good team and it feels good to make it to the next round. Hopefully, we make it to the Semis. Of course, we must thank the crowd, who were simply outstanding."
(What did he say which made his side comeback so well in the 1st Innings?) See, we were very positive still after losing Pathirana in the powerplay. So, we had that confidence. Of course we knew how the wicket would play. Each and everyone had their body language very high today. It's a very big plus point for us. Everybody wanted to contribute somehow for the team. Chameera, Theekshana, Hemantha - all did a brilliant job. Really happy with the way everyone contributed.
(Bowling unit doing so well despite missing Hasaranga) Yeah, we are really missing Hasaranga and now, of course Pathirana. It's a big miss for us but at the same time, luckily we have got a cover for Hasaranga. So, if he (Hasaranga) was there today, things would have been different. You know that he delivers for the team whenever he gets the ball in his hand. We can't control that unfortunately but we will take the good things from here especially Pathum's ton. We knew that a big knock of his was due. Hopefully, he continues this for the rest of the tournament.
I know there was a lot of chats when we opted to bowl first. We knew that one side the boundary is a bit short. We knew that we have a chance if we can restrict them under 170-180.
(How good it is to have a 'Q' next to your name?) It is wonderful to see. After many years, we have finally made it to the next round. We have a really good team and it feels good to make it to the next round. Hopefully, we make it to the Semis. Of course, we must thank the crowd, who were simply outstanding."
Highest Successful Chase vs Australia in T20 WCs:
184/2 – Sri Lanka, Pallekele, 2026 (T-182), Tonight*
179/4 – West Indies, Mirpur, 2014 (T-179)
172/3 – West Indies, The Oval, 2009 (T-170)
184/2 – Sri Lanka, Pallekele, 2026 (T-182), Tonight*
179/4 – West Indies, Mirpur, 2014 (T-179)
172/3 – West Indies, The Oval, 2009 (T-170)
Sri Lanka have pushed Australia to the brink of exit. A Pathum Nissanka special after a brilliant comeback with the ball sees the Lankan side through to the Super 8s. Earlier in the day, England escaped an Italian scare and qualified for the Super 8s.
Three games are coming up tomorrow! New Zealand vs Canada at Chepauk in the morning. Ireland vs Zimbabwe in Pallekele in the afternoon. Scotland vs Nepal at Wankhede in the evening.
All eyes will be on that Group B clash in Pallekele. Zimbabwe win, and they are through to the Super 8s. For Australia, they need the Chevrons to lose to Ireland first before thinking about anything else.
For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Pritam Dey, scorer Raju Khariya and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!
Three games are coming up tomorrow! New Zealand vs Canada at Chepauk in the morning. Ireland vs Zimbabwe in Pallekele in the afternoon. Scotland vs Nepal at Wankhede in the evening.
All eyes will be on that Group B clash in Pallekele. Zimbabwe win, and they are through to the Super 8s. For Australia, they need the Chevrons to lose to Ireland first before thinking about anything else.
For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Pritam Dey, scorer Raju Khariya and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!