Pallekele, Sri Lanka – Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten century lit up the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium as Sri Lanka clinched a historic eight-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The win propelled the Islanders into the Super 8 stage with flair and dominance.
Nissanka, named Player of the Match, smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls, including 15 boundaries. His masterful knock anchored Sri Lanka’s successful chase of 182 runs, which they achieved in only 18 overs. The batting-friendly pitch allowed Nissanka to play his natural game, a luxury he relished after delivering the century that sealed the triumph.
Reflecting on the run chase, Nissanka beamed, ‘The wicket was excellent today, letting me play my natural game. Scoring a hundred and winning the match for my team feels incredible. We needed a solid powerplay, and then my partnership with Kusal Mendis took us forward. From there, it was about staying put and finishing the job.’
He noted the conditions at Pallekele often favor chasing teams, with the pitch improving as the game progresses and minimal dew to disrupt bowlers. ‘Usually, second innings here are easier, and it got better as we went along. Not much dew either,’ he added.
On his form, Nissanka said he waited patiently for balls in his zone, capitalizing on those suiting his strengths. This performance caps a stellar tournament for Sri Lanka, who started with a 20-run win over Ireland and followed it with a 105-run thrashing of Oman. Now atop Group B with a net run rate of +2.462 after three straight wins, they look unstoppable.
Australia, suffering their second loss in three games, sit second with a +0.414 NRR. Zimbabwe leads the chase for Super 8 spots with two wins, while Ireland remains in contention alongside the Aussies. Sri Lanka’s momentum sets the stage for an exciting Super 8 campaign.