Pathum Nissanka Century, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka raised a few eyebrows at the toss when he chose to field first. On a flat pitch at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, against a power-packed Australian batting line-up, it looked like a huge gamble.
And early on, it seemed that gamble might backfire badly.
-
Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh came out blazing.
-
Boundaries flowed to all parts of the ground.
-
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were under pressure from the first over.
To make things worse, Sri Lanka lost their strike bowler Matheesha Pathirana to a hamstring injury in just the third over. Suddenly, the decision to bowl first looked like an open invitation for Australia to pile up a massive score.
Sri Lanka vs Australia T20 World Cup matches are known for dramatic swings, and this moment felt like the beginning of one.
Australian Openers Go Berserk
Head and Marsh did exactly what you’d expect modern T20 openers to do: attack, attack, and attack some more.
-
Australia raced to an unbeaten 100-run opening stand in just 8.2 overs.
-
It was the fifth time an Australian opening pair had put up a century stand in T20 World Cup history.
-
Head smashed 54 off 27, Marsh matched him with 56 off 29.
At 104 without loss in the first 50 balls, Australia looked on track for something close to 220. The Sri Lankan bowlers were leaking runs, and the home crowd had gone quiet. It felt like the game was slipping away before it had even settled.
But T20 cricket has a cruel way of flipping the script in a matter of balls.
The Turning Point: Nissanka’s Moment of Redemption
Pathum Nissanka Century, The first key shift didn’t come with the bat. It came in the field.
Glenn Maxwell, always a dangerous presence, tried to unsettle Sri Lanka’s plans by switching to a left-hander’s stance, looking to play a switch-hit over what would usually be third man. Dushan Hemantha sent down a slightly over-pitched ball, and Maxwell went for the audacious shot.
At backward point, Pathum Nissanka had already spotted the change. He adjusted, took a couple of sharp steps to his left, then flung himself full-stretch.
Moments earlier, he had dropped a skier from the same batter. But this time, he held on to a brilliant diving catch.
That one catch did more than remove Maxwell. It shifted the energy of the entire game. You could almost feel Australia’s innings begin to unravel from that moment.
Australia Collapse After Flying Start
From 104 without loss, Australia crashed to 181 all out. That’s the story in one line.
Break it down, though, and it becomes even more astonishing:
-
First 50 balls: 104 runs, 0 wickets.
-
Last 70 balls: 77 runs, 10 wickets.
After Head and Marsh departed, the middle order never quite found its rhythm.
-
Cameron Green and Tim David fell cheaply.
-
Josh Inglis (27 off 22) and Maxwell (22 off 15) tried to stabilize things, but couldn’t push on.
-
No other batter apart from the top four reached double figures.
What had looked like a potential 200-plus total suddenly shrank. Yes, 181 is still a competitive score, but given where Australia were, it felt at least 20–30 runs short.
And in a must-win game to keep their Super 8 hopes alive, that shortfall could prove fatal.
Sri Lanka’s Chase Starts On A Sour Note
Pathum Nissanka Century, If Sri Lanka wanted to chase their highest T20 total at home, they needed a solid, composed start.
Instead, they got an early jolt.
-
Kusal Perera mistimed a simple shot and offered Nathan Ellis a straightforward catch off Marcus Stoinis.
-
Sri Lanka slumped to 8/1 in the second over, and nerves rippled through the crowd.
Enter Kusal Mendis. Alongside Nissanka, he had the job of resetting the chase and calming the tension.
Nissanka And Mendis Build A Calm, Clever Partnership
What followed was textbook T20 chasing: not panicking, not going into a shell, but respecting the situation while still keeping the scoreboard moving.
Mendis set the tone with positive intent:
-
He picked gaps, drove on the up, and punished anything too full or too short.
-
His intent ensured the required run rate never climbed out of control.
Nissanka played a more measured hand at first:
-
He expertly used the pace of the Australian quicks.
-
Rather than trying to muscle the ball, he leaned into timing – guiding, glancing, and steering the ball to the boundary.
The duo stitched together a 97-run stand that completely changed the mood of the chase. Sri Lanka went from tentative to comfortable.
Along the way, there was a bit of personal history as well:
-
Kusal Mendis reached his half-century in 35 balls, becoming only the fifth player – after Mahela Jayawardene, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, and KL Rahul – to score three consecutive T20 World Cup fifties.
-
Nissanka brought up his own fifty a few deliveries later, keeping the partnership rolling nicely.
When Mendis finally fell for 51 off 38, Sri Lanka were firmly in control.
Pavan Rathnayake Joins The Party
Pathum Nissanka Century, there was still work to do. A clump of wickets could have brought Australia roaring back into the contest.
But Pavan Rathnayake walked in and did exactly what the situation demanded:
-
He rotated the strike smartly.
-
He ensured Nissanka stayed on strike as often as possible.
-
He didn’t try to over-hit; he just played his role as the perfect support act.
The focus now shifted entirely to Nissanka. And that’s when he decided to unleash his full range.
Nissanka Shifts Gears After Drinks
Up until the 14th over, Nissanka’s innings had been built on timing and placement. He was in control, but not yet brutal.
Then came the drinks break – and a change in tempo.
Marcus Stoinis bowled one just back of a length, targeting the top of off and denying room. It was a smart ball on paper. But Nissanka had already made up his mind.
-
He moved into position early.
-
Met the ball right in the sweet spot.
-
And launched it high over mid-wicket for a huge six.
That stroke was like a switch being flicked. From that moment, the gentle artist turned into a clean-hitting powerhouse. He didn’t just rely on the bowlers’ pace anymore; he began generating his own power, driving, pulling, and lofting with complete command.
A Century Of Class And Character
Nissanka’s scoring pattern tells its own story:
-
He took 32 balls to reach his half-century.
-
He needed just 20 more balls to race from fifty to a hundred.
That acceleration is the mark of a top-tier T20 batter – one who can both anchor an innings and finish it in style.
By the time he reached his century:
-
He had struck 10 fours and 5 sixes.
-
He had dismantled Australia’s bowling attack with a blend of finesse and power.
Pathum Nissanka Century, When he removed his helmet and placed a finger to his lips, it was more than just a celebration. It felt like a statement – silencing doubts, critics, and perhaps even the pressure that had built over Sri Lanka’s earlier struggles in the tournament.
And remember that catch earlier? That moment of redemption in the field flowed perfectly into this match-winning knock. It really was Nissanka’s night from start to finish.
Post-Match Reflections: “I Waited For My Strength”
Speaking in Sinhalese after receiving the Player of the Match award, Nissanka gave a simple explanation for what looked like a masterclass in controlled aggression:
He said he was just waiting for the ball to come into his “strength” areas, and once it did, he backed himself to hit to the boundary.
That patience, mixed with confidence, is exactly what separated him from everyone else on the night. He didn’t slog blindly; he calculated, waited, and then attacked when the odds were in his favour.
What This Means For Sri Lanka
This win did more than just provide a memorable night for the home fans.
-
Sri Lanka secured their place in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup.
-
They completed their highest successful T20 chase at home, under pressure and on a big stage.
-
Their batting, often criticized for inconsistency, showed both depth and maturity.
Just as importantly, they found a genuine match-winner in Nissanka, whose all-round impact – in the field and with the bat – could be vital in the tougher stages ahead.
The confidence boost from chasing down 181 against a big team like Australia can’t be overstated. It sends a clear message to the rest of the tournament: Sri Lanka are not just here to make up the numbers.
Australia’s Complicated Road Ahead
For Australia, this game will sting.
-
They dominated the first half with the bat, then lost their way.
-
Their bowlers, despite an early strike, couldn’t find a consistent plan to contain Nissanka and Mendis.
-
Their fielding lacked the spark that Sri Lanka showed.
Now, instead of holding their fate in their own hands, they’re in a nervy waiting game. Their chances of progressing depend on other results – specifically, they need Ireland to beat Zimbabwe, and by a hefty margin, to improve their net run rate scenario.
For a team with Australia’s pedigree, that’s a tough position to be in.
A Night That Belonged To Pathum Nissanka
Pathum Nissanka Century, When you step back and look at the whole story of this match, it revolves around one man.
-
He dropped a tough chance, then pulled off a stunning catch to remove a key batter.
-
He walked in under pressure after an early wicket, kept his nerve, built a partnership, then exploded in the back end.
-
He hit the first century of this T20 World Cup, a brilliant 52-ball ton that will be remembered for a long time.
Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket win over Australia wasn’t just a team victory. It was a showcase of how one player, on one night, can tilt the entire world’s attention in his direction.
Similar Articles: ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: Full Fixtures, Dates, Venues & Match Timings
Conclusion
Pathum Nissanka Century, In a format where momentum is everything, Sri Lanka seized theirs at exactly the right time. From staring down a daunting total after Australia’s blazing start, they clawed their way back through discipline with the ball and sharp work in the field.
Then, with the bat, they showed calmness and class. Mendis laid the platform, Rathnayake supported smartly, and Pathum Nissanka turned a tricky chase into a personal highlight reel.
Australia, meanwhile, will look back at this match and wonder how they let it slip – from 104 without loss to 181 all out, and from a dominant position to hoping other teams bail them out.
Cricket, especially T20 cricket, can be brutal like that. One over, one catch, one innings – and the entire tournament picture changes.
