Australia’s chances of progressing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 are in serious jeopardy after a convincing victory by Sri Lanka in their Group B match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Sri Lanka chased down Australia’s total with ease, led by a remarkable century from Pathum Nissanka, as the hosts remained unbeaten and secured qualification to the Super Eight stage.
Nissanka Century Drives Sri Lanka to Victory
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka scored a blistering 100 not out off 52 balls — the first century of the 2026 T20 World Cup — powering his side to a comfortable eight-wicket win. Nissanka’s innings included five sixes and ten fours, anchoring a successful chase of 182 runs with two overs to spare.
Supporting contributions came from Kusal Mendis (51) and Pavan Rathnayake (28 not out), helping Sri Lanka reach 184/2 and cement their spot in the tournament’s next round.
Australia’s Batting Collapse Costs Momentum
Australia posted a competitive score after strong starts by captain Mitchell Marsh (54 off 25) and Travis Head (56 off 27). The pair put together a rapid century partnership early in the innings, raising hopes of a challenging total.
However, Australia’s middle order collapsed dramatically, losing six wickets for just 21 runs, which allowed Sri Lanka to overhaul the target with relative comfort.
Group B Standings and Australia’s Qualification Hopes
Sri Lanka now leads Group B with three wins from three matches, ensuring progress to the Super Eight round. Australia’s defeat places them third in the group with only two points, and their path to the next stage is no longer in their own hands.
To keep qualification alive, Australia must defeat Oman in their final group fixture and rely on other results going their way — including Zimbabwe losing to both Ireland and Sri Lanka. In that scenario, net run rate could become the deciding factor.
