Nissanka Century Vaults Sri Lanka into Super Eight; Australia on Brink of Elimination
PALLEKELE – Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka delivered a career-defining performance on Monday, anchoring a record chase with an unbeaten century to secure an eight-wicket victory over Australia at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The result guarantees Sri Lanka a place in the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage while leaving Australia’s tournament life dependent on external results.
Match Summary: High Stakes in Pallekele
Chasing a competitive target of 182, Sri Lanka dismantled the Australian attack, reaching 184/2 with two overs to spare. The loss places Australia in a precarious position; they face elimination unless Zimbabwe defeats Ireland in Tuesday’s fixture.
Scorecard Snapshot
| Team | Score | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 181 all out (20.0 ov) | Travis Head 56 (29), Mitchell Marsh 54 (27) Dushan Hemantha 3/37 (4.0) |
| Sri Lanka | 184/2 (18.0 ov) | Pathum Nissanka 100* (52), Kusal Mendis 51 (38) Marcus Stoinis 1/25 |
Nissanka and Mendis Orchestrate the Chase
Following the early loss of Kusal Perera at deep backward point, the hosts required stability. Nissanka and wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis constructed a decisive 97-run partnership for the second wicket. Mendis provided fluent support with 51 off 38 balls, allowing Nissanka to dictate the tempo.
Nissanka’s innings was a blend of precision and power, featuring 10 boundaries and five sixes. He reached his century off just 52 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 192.30. After Marcus Stoinis dismissed Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake entered the fray, contributing a rapid 28 off 15 balls to seal the victory.
For more on player statistics and tournament records, visit the International Cricket Council (ICC) official website.
Australia’s Collapse: From Dominance to Despair
Sent in to bat, Australia appeared poised for a total exceeding 200. Openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head exploited the powerplay, forging a 104-run stand in under nine overs. Both batters scored half-centuries at strike rates exceeding 190, putting the Sri Lankan bowlers under immense pressure.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the middle overs. Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha triggered a collapse, claiming 3/37. Supported by disciplined bowling from Dushmantha Chameera and Dunith Wellalage, Sri Lanka restricted Australia to 181, taking the final 10 wickets for just 77 runs.
Pathum Nissanka also impacted the game in the field, taking a full-length diving catch to remove the dangerous Glenn Maxwell, further stifling Australia’s middle-order charge.
Tournament Implications
The victory marks a significant turnaround for Sri Lanka, who capitalized on home conditions to dismantle the reigning champions. Conversely, Australia’s campaign now hangs by a thread following this defeat and a previous upset loss to Zimbabwe. The Australians must now wait for the result of the Zimbabwe vs. Ireland match to determine their fate in the tournament.
Keep track of the points table and qualification scenarios on the Cricket Australia official site or Sri Lanka Cricket.