Sri Lanka vs Australia, Match 30 Match Summary

History awaits on Tuesday! Congratulations Sri Lanka. After being eliminated in the group stage in the 2024 edition, they will take a lot of heart from the fact that they have made it to the Super 8s in this one. Also, the last time the tournament was held in Sri Lanka, in 2012, they ended up as the finalists. This time, they are the co hosts, but will hope for something similar or even better. So this is how the Super Eight stage looks like right now. Group X - India, West Indies and South Africa | Group Y - England and Sri Lanka. If Zimbabwe win on Tuesday, they will take the fourth team's spot in Group X and Australia will be knocked out. Tuesday, 17th February, 2026, sees another triple header. New Zealand have a chance to lock their Super Eight spot as they take on Canada in Chennai in a morning match (5.30 am GMT). In the afternoon, in Pallekele, history could be witnessed as Zimbabwe have a chance to make it to the Super Eight for the first time in a Men's T20 World Cup on pure merit. Their match against Ireland is scheduled to begin at 9.30 am GMT. Then, in the evening, we shall witness the first dead rubber of this edition, with Nepal taking on Scotland for pride at the Wankhede, with the first ball set to be bowled at 1.30 pm GMT. As always, our build up will begin well in advance. So do tune in early. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

'Go Ireland!' So screams Mark Howard jokingly on air. It was a magnificent win over Ireland to start their campaign but the cookie has crumbled since for the Aussies. What seemed like a shock loss to Zimbabwe has turned into a catastrophe after this Lankan drubbing and now, they can only wait, watch and hope. They play their last league match against Oman, but it is also the last match of the league stage, on Friday, 20th February, 2026. Their campaign could come to an end even before they play that match. Zimbabwe are due to play Ireland on Tuesday and if the Chevrons win that match, they will become the second team alongside Sri Lanka to join the Super Eights, from Group B. If Ireland manage to win that clash, then there is another match for Zimbabwe, this time against Sri Lanka, on 19th February, 2026. If the Rhodesians lose that as well, then, it will come down to a net run rate scenario with Australia needing to manage to beat Oman by a significant margin. Too much to ask for, isn't it? Maybe, Australia might want to ask Pakistan how did they pray when the T20 World Cup was held on Aussie soil in 2022. Almost relegated, they came through a miraculous backdoor entry and qualified for the final.

Hope we make it to the semis - The victorious captain of Sri Lanka, DASUN SHANAKA, calls this as one of the best performances by Sri Lanka in the recent past and is very happy with the win. On being asked as to what was said post the Powerplay in the first innings and how did they manage to gather themselves, Shanaka says that the players were very positive despite losing Matheesha Pathirana early. Adds that they knew about the wicket as well. Praises the unit stating that each and every one showed a very high body language and it is a big plus point, adding that everyone wanted to contribute. Is happy with the way the team pulled things back. On Wanindu Hasaranga probably not missed in this match, Dasun reiterates that they are definitely missing Hasaranga and now possibly, will miss Pathirana as well. However, he quickly adds that they are lucky that they have got replacements. Praises Dushan Hemantha who delivered in this game. Adds that no one can control injuries but the team needs to take the good things from here. Goes onto say that it was Pathum Nissanka's turn in this match but the management and the squad knew that he was due for a big knock. Hopes that he continues this way further in the tournament. Shanaka is now asked whether does the pitch always behave like this in Pallekele, looking way too different across innings, to which, the reply is that not really. He states that when Australia were going great guns, his side was confident. Adds that the boundaries are comparatively short here and the Lankans knew they could keep the Kangaroos to around 170-180. On the feeling of having a 'Q' against their name, Dasun replies that it feels wonderful. Details that after many years, they are finally making it to the next round. Stresses that Sri Lanka are a good team and hopes that they will make it to the semis as well. Ends his speech in Sinhalese and I presume, he means to thanks the crowd for supporting his side in large numbers.

In the lap of the Gods now - The skipper of Australia, MITCHELL MARSH, has a forlorn look on his face. On his thoughts regarding the score of 181 at the halfway mark, Marsh replies saying that the Aussies felt that it was a competitive total. However, he also admits that the batters probably left themselves a few runs short given the start they had. But sportingly gives full marks to Sri Lanka for the way they played. On being asked to describe more about how many runs did they feel they were short by, Mitch actually plays around the question. Says that when the Aussie batters are at their best, they make big scores but they lost their way at the back end in this match. Explains that they could barely get much going as the Lankans bowled brilliantly. Closes the question by saying that there is nothing much else to say other than Sri Lanka outplaying his side. On the Aussies watching the Zimbabwe-Ireland game, the Bison seems to give a twitch, as if to hide his thoughts. Shrugs his shoulders and says that Australia's future is in the lap of the Gods now. Adds that there is not much emotion in the dressing room. Stresses that they have not been at their best. Eventually, does answer the question stating that the players will watch the Zim-Ire clash, but are very disappointed at the moment.

Player Of The Match - For his magnificent unbeaten 100 (52), registering the first century of this World Cup, Sri Lanka's PATHUM NISSANKA has been adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. He calls upon Jehan Mubarak for translation, who is actually the coach of the Sri Lankan Under-19 side, but has been with this group in this tournament. On being asked about his knock, Nissanka says that the wicket was very good and he just played his normal game. Adds that he is happy to get a hundred and his team home. The next question is whether he had to play any differently, to which, Pathum replies that they wanted a good Powerplay with the bat and he managed to string a decent partnership with Kusal Mendis. After that, the pair just tried to continue the innings and seeing it through. On whether the pitch became better in the second innings, PN says that it becomes a bit easier for chasing in Pallekele and this wicket did seem to get better. On the dew factor, Pathum Nissanka says that there was not that much dew. On being asked to sum up his innings, Nissanka says that he was just waiting for the ball to come to his strengths and then hit it for boundaries.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Probably more than a cliche - They say, lightning does not strike the same place twice. History may or may not repeat itself. Let's take you back a bit earlier in history. 2011, Pallekele. Sri Lanka had huffed and puffed their way to 157/9 and in reply, Australia were 71/0 in 5.4 overs. Shane Watson was dismissed by Ajantha Mendis and from 71/0, needing 87 runs in 86 balls, the Aussies could make only 78 runs and lost 9 wickets. Ajantha Mendis took 6 of those wickets. Now, back to present. 2026, Pallekele. Australia were 104/0 after 8.2 overs. Travis Head was dismissed and the Aussies could manage only 77 runs in the next 70 balls, losing all their 10 wickets, 6 of those to spin. Spin has been an achilles heel for the Kangaroos for quite a while now but they just can't seem to be able to do anything about it. Very recently, they were whitewashed by Pakistan and in the batting department at least, they cannot say that it is inexperienced. After the two openers, only Inglis and Maxwell could reach double figures, with no one actually even wanting to stay in the middle and forge a partnership. Please stay tuned for the presentation.

The best League in the world - This is why, the IPL is so important for cricket. It shapes up cricketers, not just from India, but from around the world as well. Remember, Nathan Ellis has represented the Punjab Kings in the past and that's where he developed his lovely death-bowling skills. Sri Lanka have got some advantage too. Matheesha Pathirana is a well-known product but this is Chameera 2.0. He seemed to be going down in his career but his stint with the Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 really changed him totally. Come 2026, he is a much experienced and a better version of his previous self and if you need any more proof, you just need to revisit his last couple of overs and that wicket of Josh Inglis, where he changed his pace brilliantly. Sri Lanka were a bowler down as early as the third over, but they rallied around and came back strongly post the opening partnership. The spinners choked the Aussies with Dushan Hemantha picking up the most number of wickets - 3.

Don't know what to say, don't know don't know what to say - Could the Aussies have done any better in the second innings? Yes, picked up 8 more wickets. Jokes apart, given the experience of THIS attack, not much. In the absence of 'The Big Three', this bowling attack just does not have the experience of bowling in Asian conditions. Adam Zampa is probably the only one but he was put under pressure from the first ball he bowled and even he came under pressure. The likes of Bartlett and Ellis are good, but not too experienced in sub-continental conditions. Nathan Ellis is improving a lot, but he will need to play at least a couple of more seasons of the IPL to get to the level of a Hazlewood or a Cummins. The one main difference which could be seen is the lack of change of pace by the Aussie bowlers. It is not like they don't do it, but don't have enough practice to do it consistently with the wet ball. In the end, Stoinis did get a couple of wickets, but it will be fair enough to say that he is way past his prime with both bat and ball.

The Love for Yellow - Pathum Nissanka Silva. What a player. One for the ages, who plays phenomenally in all three formats for the game. In the shortest format, he loves the Aussies, amassing 397 runs, at an average of 39.7 and a strike rate of 121.4. Those 397 are the second most in his career, behind 421 vs India. In this match, he started with a bang. When the length was short, Nissanka cut, punched and pulled. When the length was pitched up, he played on the up and went over the top. He made good use of the broom as well, sweeping the spinners off their lengths. And that was not all. He used the depth of his crease well and played the paddle and pick-up shots beautifully against the seamers too. He reached his second century in T20Is, in just 52 balls, which included 10 fours and 5 sixes. And en route, Nissanka also recorded the first century in this edition of the World Cup. Pathum's wagonwheel saw him play all around the ground. As much as we say that the conditions supported the batters in the second innings, we cannot take anything away from how the Lankan pair of Nissanka and Mendis batted.

Dew a factor? Definitely, it was. The pitch seemed to change a lot across the two innings and even though Australia will be kicking themselves for throwing away a wonderful platform from 104/0 in the 9th over, batting first, after the Powerplay, seemed to get a lot difficult. So maybe, the toss played a pivotal role, but nothing can be taken away from Nissanka and Mendis. 2016 - it was a Test match in Sri Lanka, also in Pallekele and the world came to know who was Kusal Mendis. Staring at a big first innings deficit, he turned the match around, by attacking Mitchell Starc in the Lankan second innings, taking his side to a winning position. He has not yet translated that in the T20I format, but in this game, he was excellent, playing a wonderful foil to Nissanka.

No answer - In normal scenarios, 182 is a pretty difficult target to achieve. And when Australia dismissed Kusal Perera in the second over, that target seemed even bigger. But what happened next was totally unexpected. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis counterattacked from the word go and their 97-run stand for the second wicket set things up nicely. Mitchell Marsh kept throwing the ball to different bowlers, using 6 options, but no one had any answer on how to stop the juggernaut. Mendis was eventually dismissed for 51 but even after that, there was barely any chance offered.

Super 8, here we come! It might be a Monday, but the stands in Pallekele are jam packed. They might have been quiet when the first 10 overs of the match were going on, but at the end of the game, they are hustling and bustling with joy, as they celebrate their love for their country, becoming the fifth team to qualify for the Super Eight stage of the 2026 edition. West Indies, India, South Africa, England and now, Sri Lanka. Australia have been shellacked and have one foot back home. What about Zimbabwe? One foot in? If Zimbabwe beat Ireland in their next match, Australia will be bouncing back home!

FOUR! SRI LANKA WIN BY 8 WICKETS AND QUALIFY FOR THE SUPER 8s! Full, around middle, Pavan Rathnayake gets down on a knee and sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary!

THE FIRST CENTURY OF THE 2026 T20 WORLD CUP! Second ton for Nissanka in T20Is as well. Pallekele is on its feet. The coach loves it, his country loves it and Nissanka is standing in the middle, with his helmet off and arms aloft! Just 52 balls for his century, comprising of 10 fours and 5 sixes. What a knock. Take a bow. Gets there with a gentle pull through mid on for a single.

Fuller, around off, Nissanka leans and scoops it over the bowler, down to long on. Rathnayake charges back for the second for his partner. Nissanka on 99!

Wow. This is getting exciting. Sri Lanka need 5 to win, Nissanka needs 3 for a century!

FOUR! Just toying around with the field! Full in length, and a googly turning into the stumps, Pathum Nissanka drops to a knee and sweeps it powerfully through square leg, beating deep square leg to his left for a cracking four.

Sharp turn, full and on off, Pathum Nissanka uses the depth of the crease and dabs it to backward point.

FOUR! Nissanka moves into the 90s. Zampa dishes out a leg break, full and on middle, Pathum Nissanka gets down on a knee and sweeps it aerially. It goes one bounce into the fence at deep backward square leg. Sri Lanka need 9 more off 17 balls.

Final over of the game? With the way this chase has taken shape, seems highly likely! Adam Zampa to probably finish things off. Sri Lanka need 13, Nissanka needs 11!

Full and wide outside off, Pathum slashes this to deep point for one. 18 from the over, 48 in the last 3!

SIX! CHEEKY! Full, around middle and off, Nissanka gets down and across and laps this beautifully over fine leg! 14 more needed now!

WIDE. Ellis goes fuller, but this is miles outside off. Left alone.

SIX! Nissanka and Sri Lanka are unstoppable! A short ball, following the batter down the leg side, Nissanka backs away to the leg side and throws his bat at it. Connects well and sends this flying over deep backward point!

Full and outside off, Pathum Nissanka leans into it and drills it to long off for a brace. Steve Smith, who is on as a substitute, charges in but fumbles on the first attempt, which allows the batters to cross over again. This also brings up the 50-run partnership between Nissanka and Rathnayake.

Ellis slows it up again, full and around off, from around the stump. Pavan Rathnayake covers the line by shuffling a bit across and drills it to deep mid-wicket for an easy single.

Slower short ball, on off, Nissanka pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

FOUR! Lucky escape again! Fired, on middle, Pavan Rathnayake comes down the track but is not to the pitch of the ball. He looks to flick but the ball goes off the inside edge, past the keeper and it races through fine leg.

RATHNAYAKE SURVIVES A STUMPING APPEAL. One can say, by the barest of margins. Flighted, outside off, Rathnayake gets down and looks to defend but is drawn forward. The keeper collects the ball and whips the bails off and appeals. The square leg umpire refers this upstairs and the replay shows this to be tight. The third umpire takes a couple of looks and decides that there is something behind the line. Oooff... looks very close.