Australia vs Sri Lanka, 30th Match, Group B, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

Australia came into this tournament as one of the favorites. But things have gone south pretty quickly. If Zimbabwe beat Ireland tomorrow, Australia are heading home. So the Aussies will all be Ireland supporters for one day. Sri Lanka came into this tournament on the back of some poor results but have now gone into the next round. It's time to bring down the curtains on this one. We will be there nice and early for another triple-header tomorrow. Do join us for those games. For now bye bye and tata.

Dasun Shanaka | Sri Lanka captain: "Yeah, one of the best performances in recent past. Really happy about the way proceedings went. (how did you keep your spirits high after that start by Australia?) See we were still very positive after losing Matheesha Pathirana in that powerplay. So we had that confidence and of course we knew about the wicket as well. Yeah, it was each and everyone who showed the body language very high today. So it's a very plus point and you know everybody wanted to contribute somehow. So really happy the way we pulled back. So yeah, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana and of course we talk about Dushan Hemantha a lot after that last game. He delivered. So really happy each and everyone contributed. (on missing Hasaranga) Yeah, missing Hasaranga and of course now Pathirana. It's a big miss but at the same time you know, luckily we got a cover for Hasaranga. So if he was there it could have been more different, you know, he's a.... every time when he get the ball he deliver for us. So yeah, we can't control that unfortunately. But you know, we need to take the good things from here. So really happy about the way all the proceedings went, especially Pathum's ton. So we knew that it was due and yeah, so he will continue this for the next in the tournament. (does it get better here in the 2nd innings?) Not actually. Yes, I know they have a lot of chats when we opted to bowl first. But the group of us were confident and the boundaries are comparatively short. So we knew that we can get them if we can keep them under 170, 180. (how good is it to have a Q next to your name?) Yeah, it is very much wonderful. You know, after many years, we finally making into the next round. And of course, yeah, I mean, it's a good team. We should go to the next round and hopefully we'll make it to the semis as well. And of course, we must thank the crowd, massive crowd today. I will speak in Sinhalese." ['At this moment, your support is very important. For that, thank you very much. Like this, please support our matches. We will try hard in this tournament to go to the semi-finals. We value your support. Thank you very much.']

Mitchell Marsh | Australia captain: "Well, I thought it was a competitive total at the halfway mark. There's no doubt we probably left ourselves a few short after the start that we had. So that's disappointing, but well played to Sri Lanka, they outplayed us tonight. (after that great start, how many did you think you should've got?) Yeah, look, we, I mean, we know that at our best we can make big scores. And we just lost our way a little bit there towards the back-end. Couldn't get a partnership going and Sri Lanka bowled really well towards the back-end of their innings. So, yeah, coming off, we knew we were a few short. As I said, with the start that we had, but yeah, not much else to say other than Sri Lanka outplayed us. (now you are in an unfamiliar position, what do you say to the boys?) Yeah, it's a devastated group. We're in the lap of the gods now, I think, with the way it's shaped up. But yeah, look, there's a lot of emotion in the rooms right now. We haven't been at our best. And so, yeah, we watch the Zimbabwe-Ireland game with and we hope.... But yeah we're a disappointed bunch at the moment."

Pathum Nissanka | Player of the Match: (translated from Sinhalese by Jehan Mubarak) "He said the wicket was pretty good today and it allowed him to play his normal game. And he is happy that he was able to get a hundred and get the team home. (did he have to plan differently?) We needed a good powerplay. We got a good partnership with Kusal Mendis. And we were able to continue from there and after that it was just continuing the inning and seeing it through. (did the wicket get better in the second innings?) Usually it's a bit easier chasing at Pallekele and the wicket did seem to get a bit better. (any dew?) Not much dew. (you were in form and how do you carry it forward?) It was just waiting for the ball to come to his strengths and he was happy that he got several of those balls to those strengths and then was able to hit those boundaries."

Fastest T20I 100s for Sri Lanka (by balls)
44 Kusal Perera vs NZ Nelson 2025
52 Pathum Nissanka vs Ind Dubai 2025
52 Pathum Nissanka vs Aus Pallekele 2026

Highest individual scores for SL in T20 World Cups
100*Pathum Nissanka vs Aus Pallekele 2026
100 Mahela Jayawardene vs Zim Providence 2010
98* Mahela Jayawardene vs WI Bridgetown 2010
96* Tillakaratne Dilshan vs WI The Oval 2009

Sri Lanka beating Australia in World Cups (ODIs + T20Is)
By seven wkts Lahore 1996 (Final)
By six wickets Nottingham 2009
By eight wickets Pallekele 2026

The chase of 182
. the highest successful run chase for Sri Lanka in T20 World Cups
. the highest successful run chases against Australia in T20 World Cups
. first time Sri Lanka have chased 180+ vs a team other than Bangladesh/Zimbabwe in T20Is
. second highest by any team in a T20Is in Sri Lanka

First time since the start of 2024, Adam Zampa has gone wicketless in two successive T20 Internationals

Sri Lanka qualify; Australia will be eliminated if Zimbabwe beat Ireland tomorrow.

This is the first century in T20 World Cups against Australia; the previous highest being Umar Akmal’s 94 in Mirpur in 2014.

22:21 Local Time, 16:51 GMT, 22:21 IST: First it was Zimbabwe and now it's the turn of Sri Lanka to bring down Australia. Mitch Marsh with a grudging smile on his face as he congratulates Pathum Nissanka. Marsh's reaction sums up how good a knock this was. Meanwhile Kusal Mendis bows down to Nissanka in appreciation while Shanaka smiles. Hugs and smiles in the Sri Lankan camp. What a night for the Lions at Kandy. And what a night for Nissanka. Everyone knew what a talent he was and on the big night he has shown off his range to the entire world. A 100 from 52 balls and it has put Australia on the edge of elimination. Russel Arnold on air says that it's Sri Lanka's highest chase at home. Kusal Perera went early but Nissanka was joined by Kusal Mendis and the duo set Sri Lanka on their way. The job was then finished in a hurry by Nissanka and Pavan Rathnayake. One expected a tough chase but Nissanka had other ideas. To do it with two overs to spare shows how easily they have won. An off-day for Adam Zampa and that usually means Australia are in trouble and so it proved. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff...