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- AUS vs SL highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka beat Australia by 8 wickets to enter Super Eight
AUS vs SL highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka beat Australia by 8 wickets to enter Super Eight
Australia will be eliminated if Zimbabwe beat Ireland on Tuesday.
Chasing 182, Sri Lanka rode on Nissanka’s breathtaking 100 not out off just 52 balls, an innings studded with 10 fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 192.31. He anchored the chase to perfection, first stitching a 97-run stand with Kusal Mendis and then finishing the job in style alongside Pavan Rathnayake. The hosts raced to 184/2 in just 18 overs, maintaining a run rate of 10.22.
Earlier, Australia posted a competitive 181 all out in their 20 overs after a blazing start. Skipper Mitchell Marsh (54 off 27) and Travis Head (56 off 29) tore into the Sri Lankan attack during a 104-run opening stand inside nine overs. At 104/0, Australia looked set for a mammoth total.
However, Sri Lanka clawed their way back through Dushan Hemantha, who removed Head and later dismissed Marsh and Glenn Maxwell to finish with impressive figures of 3/37. Dunith Wellalage accounted for Cameron Green, while Dushmantha Chameera chipped in with two crucial wickets, including Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis. From 116/3, Australia kept losing wickets at regular intervals and failed to capitalise fully on their explosive start, eventually folding for 181.
In response, Sri Lanka suffered an early blow when Kusal Perera fell cheaply, but Nissanka quickly settled into rhythm. Mendis provided solid support with a fluent 51 off 38 balls before falling to Stoinis. By then, the platform had been laid. Rathnayake’s brisk 28 off 15 balls ensured there were no late hiccups as Sri Lanka completed the chase with 12 balls to spare.
First Zimbabwe, and now Sri Lanka — Australia’s campaign has unravelled dramatically. Once favourites, they now face the prospect of an early exit, while Sri Lanka march into the Super Eight with momentum firmly on their side.
Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, outside off, Inglis goes back and punches it towards long off for another single.
Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, On middle and leg, Maxi nudges it through square leg for one.
Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, Full and straight, Maxwell defends it awkwardly back to the bowler.
Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, around off, Josh Inglis rocks back and punches it through the covers for a run.
Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, Hmmm... turn. Fuller, around leg stump, Glenn Maxwell lunges to defend but the ball pitches and then spins away. The adjustment is nice to push the ball through mid off for a single.
- Josh Inglis 7 (9)
- Glenn Maxwell 1 (1)
Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Full and outside off, driven through the covers but it is stopped. A wicket and 4 runs from the over, excellent stuff from the so-called part timer.
Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, Outside off, eased through the covers for a single to get off the mark.
Who's next? Mad Max? Yes. Glenn Maxwell walks in next, at number 6, replacing Tim David.
Kamindu Mendis to Tim David, OUT! CAUGHT! Another one falls in this suicide mission. Floated, outside off, Tim David thinks that this is in his arc and swings with all his might. But he is not quite to the pitch of the ball and gets massive height. Not the distance. Long off is waiting and Dushan Hemantha makes no mistake. From 104/0, AUSTRALIA ARE NOW 130/4!
Dunith Wellalage provided the breakthrough of this phase, removing Cameron Green cheaply. Green attempted to shift gears by dancing down the track for a big hit, but Wellalage cleverly dragged the length wider and got the ball to grip in the surface. Beaten on the outside edge, Green was comfortably stumped by Kusal Mendis for 3 off 7 balls. The crowd erupted as Sri Lanka sensed an opening.
Hemantha then landed a bigger blow, dismissing the well-set Mitchell Marsh. There was a huge LBW appeal, with Mendis leading the charge behind the stumps. The umpire initially turned it down, but Sri Lanka opted for the review. Replays confirmed the impact was pad first, and ball-tracking showed it crashing into middle stump. Marsh, who had blazed his way to 54 off 27 balls with eight fours and two sixes, began walking even before the final decision flashed on screen.
Although Hemantha and Wellalage have conceded a few boundaries, they have shared three crucial wickets to pull Sri Lanka firmly back into the game. With Maheesh Theekshana still having an over in hand, Australia must tread carefully as the spin trio look to press home the advantage in this pivotal middle phase.
Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Outside off, laced through the covers for a single.
Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, The arm ball, around middle, Inglis punches it back to the bowler.
Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Brilliant fielding by Pavan Rathnayake. Full, outside off, Josh Inglis creams the drive through the covers but Rathnayake races to his right from deep cover, dives and stops the ball. Two runs taken, two saved.
Time for a change in pace? These two have bowled unchanged post the Powerplay. Having said that, should Shanaka change something which ain't broken? But he changes. Not the pace, but the combination. Kamindu Mendis gets the ball in his hand. For now, he is bowling left-arm orthodox.
- Tim David 6 (4)
- Josh Inglis 4 (5)
Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, FOUR! No slip this time and it runs away! Pushed through, full and on middle, Tim David clears the front leg, looks to slog it over mid-wicket, but only manages a thick outside edge. The ball shoots past the vacant slip cordon and squirrels toward the deep third fence. 10 runs from the over.
Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, An in-angler at 93.1 kph on a length, Tim David backs away and crunches it to the cover fielder.
Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Flat and quick, full and outside off, Inglis stretches forward and carves it to deep point for a single.
Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, The arm ball, 86.1 kph, coming into middle stump, David backs away to the leg side and punches it uppishly through the covers for one.
Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Outside off, punched through the covers for a run.
Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, WIDE plus a bye. Full and down the leg side, Tim David looks to flick but misses. The keeper misses and concedes a run.
Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, around middle, Josh Inglis goes back and works it towards long on for a single.
Bazball. Travball, baseball. All are the same. Go out, hit out every ball, don't even attempt to stay in the middle. Australia, in pursuit of 200 or even 250, seem to be on a suicide mission here. They need to understand that there are 20 overs in the game for a reason.
Both Australian openers scoring 50+ in a T20 WC innings
Warner & Watson vs Ind Bridgetown 2010
Warner & Watson vs Ind Colombo RPS 2012
Marsh & Head vs SL Pallekele 2026
- Josh Inglis 1 (2)
- Tim David 1 (1)
Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, Full and outside off, Josh drives it to deep cover for a single.
Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, Nearly two in two for Dushan! A leg break, tossed up, full just outside leg, and it prodigiously spins away to finish across the off stump. Inglis stretches forward, shaping for a flick, but loses his balance and ends up getting dragged out of the crease. The ball beats the outside edge and has him stranded out for a moment. Mendis, though, can't gather it cleanly behind the stumps, and Inglis survives the scare, scrambling back in time.
And then, there were three! Just what Sri Lanka would have wanted. 104/0 has quickly become 116/3 in the span of 14 balls and the Lankans have come roaring back. Josh Inglis walks in next, at number 5, replacing his skipper, Mitchell Marsh.
Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, OUT! LBW! The Aussie skipper is gone. This is pushed quicker by Dushan, in line of the stumps, on a fractionally fuller length. Mitchell Marsh is neither on the front foot, nor does he commit on the back foot, hangs somewhere in the middle and tries to block it out, but seems to have got beaten on the inside edge as the ball thuds the flap of the back pad. There is a lengthy appeal for LBW, but the umpire denies. Mendis is pleading to the umpire from behind the stumps and the Sri Lankans eventually go upstairs for a review. Nothing on UltraEdge and the Ball Tracking shows that the ball is projected to hit the middle stump. Brilliant review from the Lankans.
Dushan Hemantha to Tim David, Was that a catch? Short, around middle and off, Tim David goes back and punches it uppishly, just wide of the bowler, who dives to his left. The ball goes towards long off and a single is taken. To the naked eye, it seemed like it went at a catchable height.
Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, Outside off, punched through mid off for a single.
Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, FOUR! FIFTY FOR MARSH NOW! In 25 balls. Short, around off, Mitchell Marsh rocks back and drags the pull. It is aerial but in the gap and wide of deep mid-wicket, to his right, and into the ropes. So far, Marsh has not looked to be struggling with his legs at least, given the seriousness of his injury.
Halfway stage reached. Hmmm... the Ashes have got over a month ago, but seems like Australia have still not got over England. Appears like they watched Brook and co. bat against Italy in Kolkata this afternoon. Tim David walks in next, at number 4, replacing Cameron Green.
- Cameron Green 3 (7)
- Mitchell Marsh 49 (24)
Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, OUT! STUMPED! Sri Lanka have two wickets in quick time now. Full, wide, and cleverly fired in, almost as if the bowler saw the charge coming. Green comes dancing down but ends up miles away from the pitch of the ball. He swings hard but fails to get the connection. Mendis collects the ball cleanly behind the stumps and does the rest with ease, whipping off the bails. Australia are 110/2.
Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, Quicker one, full and on off, goes straight on. Green tries to block, but gets an inside edge onto the boot.
Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, A touch short, outside off, Marsh slaps it off the back foot to widish cover for a single.
Previous: 9.1 overs by Aus vs WI at Colombo RPS in 2012
Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, WIDE! Pushed way outside off, breaching the tramline. Marsh leaves.
Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, Shorter, outside off, Green punches it through point for one.
Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, Floated, outside off, Mitchell Marsh uses his long reach and drives it through mid off for a run.
Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, Landed outside off, Cameron Green punches it through point for a single.
- Cameron Green 1 (3)
- Mitchell Marsh 47 (22)
Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, Pushed through full and on off, Cameron Green leans on and drives it all along the ground to long off for a single.
Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, A massive appeal for stumping, but the on-field umpires confirm that Green is safe, seeing the smart replay on the giant screen. Spins big from a fuller length, outside off, Cameron Green is sucked into the shot on the front foot, trying to push it to the off side. The ball, however, spins almost square past his blade and Kusal Mendis collects it behind the stumps before he whips the bails off. The replay shows that Green's back leg never left or got lifted from the popping crease.
Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, At 88 kph, Dushan dishes out a length ball, on off, Green backs away and punches it to short cover.
At last, Sri Lanka get the breakthrough they were looking for. Now, to get some momentum back. Cameron Green walks in next, at number 3, replacing Travis Head.
Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, OUT! CAUGHT! You live by the sword and die by it. Head was looking to hit each and every ball out of the park and his 'cameo' ends on a fine 56. Floated wide outside off, Head reaches out to go over cover and wide long off, but is not quite to the pitch of the ball. He has to reach out and hence, does not get the full elevation. Wide long off is waiting and the ball flies straight to him, with Kamindu Mendis making no mistake at wide long off. AUSTRALIA ARE 104/1 AFTER 8.3 OVERS!
13 Travis Head (2024-26) – streak ends today
13 Adam Gilchrist (2005-08)
11 Aaron Finch (2018)
11 Matthew Wade (2021)
11 Aaron Finch (2021-22)
11 Matt Short (2023-26)
Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, SIX! 100-RUN OPENING STAND IS UP! 4th in this edition and the first for Australia. Full, around middle, Travis Head gets down on a knee and mows the slog sweep. It is flat, but in the gap, splitting long on and deep mid-wicket.
Both Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head signalled intent from the outset, getting off the mark with boundaries. Marsh tore into Dushmantha Chameera in the opening over, which leaked 16 runs and immediately put Sri Lanka on the back foot. Head then took charge against Maheesh Theekshana, striking a couple of crisp fours in his first over to keep the momentum firmly with Australia.
Sri Lanka’s woes deepened when Matheesha Pathirana, after bowling just four deliveries, walked off clutching his left leg, leaving the hosts a bowler short at a crucial juncture. Sensing vulnerability, Head went on the offensive against Dasun Shanaka, launching him for a towering six and following it up with a boundary.
The fifty-run opening stand — Australia’s first of the tournament — came up in rapid time, underlining the dominance of the pair. Marsh then turned his attention back to Theekshana in a brutal sequence: 0, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 — dismantling the off-spinner and ensuring there was no respite for Sri Lanka.
By the end of the Powerplay, Australia were 70/0 — the fourth-highest Powerplay total of this edition, the highest recorded in Sri Lanka during the tournament, and the joint-highest Powerplay score against Sri Lanka in T20 World Cups. It was a statement of intent in a must-win clash.
Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, The googly, outside off, 97.7 kph, shorter in length, Mitchell Marsh goes back and punches it through the covers for a single.
- Mitchell Marsh 46 (21)
- Travis Head 50 (27)
Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, Pushed flatter and wide outside off, Marsh reaches out for it and steers it through point for a run. 13 runs from the over. 27 from the last 2.
Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, SIX! Effortless! Wellalage serves a half volley on the platter for the Bison, on off, Mitchell Marsh takes the front foot ahead, gets underneath the ball cleanly and thumps it over long off for a big six.
Sri Lanka replaced Kamil Mishara with Kusal Perera, while skipper Mitchell Marsh came back into the Australia XI after missing the side's first two matches, along with Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett.
Pitch and Conditions:
Beautiful clear air, 24 degrees. 66 meters on one side, 68 on the other. 80 meters down the ground. 550 meters above sea level. It's a good pitch. You don't come to SL and expect to see a pitch without turn. Don't ask anymore. It will turn ever so slightly. It's a used pitch. You can see places with wear and tear which are patched up. Good covering of grass. Nice and hard. There's a lot more grass in line with the stumps than outside. There can be slight variable turn or pace on offer. Still think you can play your shots and enjoy yourself on this pitch.
Marsh: All okay, ready to go tonight. It's a big game, every game comes with great responsibility. Weren't at our best last game. Myself, Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett come in.
Shanaka: We're going to bowl first. One of the most important games in the comp. One change - Kusal Perera comes in for Mishara.
Teams:
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana.
Match Statistics
Venue
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
