Pallekele: Pathum Nissanka produced the first century of the tournament to guide Sri Lanka to a commanding victory over Australia, sealing the co-hosts’ place in the Super Eights while pushing the former champions to the brink of elimination.
Chasing 182, Sri Lanka set the tone immediately as Nissanka launched a pick-up six over fine leg in the opening over. Kusal Perera fell early after being drafted into the XI, but the setback barely disrupted the momentum. Nissanka’s authoritative strokeplay, combined with Kusal Mendis’ fluent support, carried Sri Lanka to 61 for 1 in the PowerPlay.
Australia’s bowlers struggled to adapt to the conditions, with the spinners particularly erratic in length and pace. Mendis matched Nissanka’s tempo and briefly surged ahead as both batters brought up their half-centuries. Marcus Stoinis eventually broke the 97-run stand, but Pavan Rathnayake ensured there was no shift in momentum, beginning his innings with crisp boundaries.
With the required rate climbing, Nissanka accelerated decisively. A 20-run over off Stoinis tilted the contest firmly in Sri Lanka’s favour. Rathnayake survived two stumping chances during a nervy passage, but Australia could not capitalise. Nissanka then capped his memorable knock with two stunning sixes off Nathan Ellis, showcasing his range by slashing over third man and scooping over fine leg.
The elegant right-hander soon reached his second T20I hundred, drawing a roaring reception from the Pallekele crowd. Rathnayake applied the finishing touches as Sri Lanka completed the chase with two overs to spare.
Earlier, Australia’s innings had promised far more than the final total suggested. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head came out aggressively after Sri Lanka opted to field, racing to 70 runs in the PowerPlay. Marsh was particularly severe on Maheesh Theekshana, striking five consecutive boundaries in the final over of the field restrictions.
The opening pair extended their assault beyond the PowerPlay, with Head reaching a brisk half-century and Australia crossing the 100-mark in quick time. However, Sri Lanka’s spin duo of Dunith Wellalage and Dushan Hemantha engineered a dramatic turnaround. Head holed out after a mistimed slog, Cameron Green was stumped charging down the track, and Marsh was trapped leg-before following a successful review.
Regular wickets stalled Australia’s progress. Tim David miscued a lofted attempt, while Glenn Maxwell’s counterattack ended when Nissanka pulled off a spectacular leaping catch at backward point. Josh Inglis briefly steadied the innings before falling to a sharp short ball from Dushmantha Chameera.
Theekshana delivered a pivotal penultimate over, conceding just two runs and removing Cooper Connolly. Despite Matheesha Pathirana’s injury-enforced absence from the latter stages, Chameera’s disciplined final over, supported by sharp fielding and run-outs, ensured Australia were bowled out for 181.
Sri Lanka’s third consecutive win confirmed their Super Eights qualification, while Australia, having now suffered back-to-back defeats, must rely on other results to keep their campaign alive.
Brief Scores: Australia 181 all out in 20 overs (Travis Head 56, Mitchell Marsh 54, Dushan Hemantha 3-37, Dushmantha Chameera 2-36) lost to Sri Lanka 184/2 in 18 overs (Pathum Nissanka 100*, Kusal Mendis 51, Marcus Stoinis 2-46) by 8 wickets
England vs Italy
Earlier in the day, England secured their Super Eights berth but were made to work hard by World Cup debutants Italy in a high-scoring contest at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Chasing 203, Italy suffered early jolts as Jofra Archer struck twice in the opening over and England’s pacers maintained relentless pace. Justin Mosca and Ben Manenti then revived the innings with a brisk counterattack, with Manenti racing to a 22-ball fifty and powering Italy back into contention. Even after Manenti’s dismissal for a quickfire 60, Grant Stewart kept the chase alive with a fearless assault, smashing five sixes across two overs. However, Sam Curran’s composed penultimate over and Jamie Overton’s double-wicket maiden in the last sealed a 24-run win for England.
England’s innings had been patchy despite crossing 200. Phil Salt provided early impetus, but wickets through the middle overs stalled progress as Italy’s spinners applied the brakes. At 105 for 5, England were under pressure before Will Jacks and Curran rebuilt with a crucial partnership. Jacks shifted gears spectacularly at the death, bringing up a 21-ball half-century — the fastest by an England batter in T20 World Cups — and guiding the total to 202 for 7. The late flourish ultimately proved decisive in a match where Italy’s spirited effort nearly produced an upset.
Brief Scores:England 202/7 in 20 overs (Will Jacks 53*, Tom Banton 30, Crishan Kalugamage 2-41) beat Italy 178 all out in 20 overs (Ben Manenti 60, Grant Stewart 45, Jamie Overton 3-18, Sam Curran 3-22) by 24 runs
Afghanistan vs UAE
In Delhi, Afghanistan registers a nervy five-wicket victory over the UAE powered by an all-round performance from Azmatullah Omarzai and kept their Super Eights hopes alive. Chasing 161, Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early before Ibrahim Zadran steadied the innings with a fluent half-century. UAE’s bowlers maintained discipline to leave Afghanistan needing 61 off the final six overs. Omarzai then swung the momentum with a calm yet aggressive unbeaten 40 off 21 balls, finding boundaries at crucial moments. Despite Junaid Siddique’s late breakthrough, Omarzai held his nerve to finish the chase in the final over.
Put into bat earlier, the UAE recovered well from 13 for 2, thanks to a productive stand between Sohaib Khan and Alishan Sharafu. The pair guided the side through the PowerPlay and consolidated in the middle overs, with Sohaib raising a well-crafted fifty. Just as the UAE looked set for a stronger finish, Omarzai triggered a collapse with incisive spells at the death, claiming 4 for 15. Wickets fell in clusters in the closing overs, restricting the UAE to 160 for 9 — a total that proved just short as Afghanistan completed the chase with four balls remaining.
Brief scores: UAE 160/9 in 20 overs (Sohaib Khan 68, Alishan Sharafu 40; Azmatullah Omarzai 4-15) lost to Afghanistan 162/5 in 19.2 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 53, Azmatullah Omarzai 40*; Junaid Siddique 2-23) by 5 wickets.
