champions of 2021, Australiaface off against co-hosts, Sri LankaIn the decisive match of Group B t20 world cup 2026. While Sri Lanka have enjoyed success in their opening fixtures, Australia find themselves in unfamiliar territory – fighting for survival after a shock defeat to Zimbabwe.
The story of this match is a tale of two very different dynamics. Sri Lanka enters this competition as the form team of the group. Under the lights at Pallekele, their top order was led by Nirant Kusal Mendis And Pathum NissankaLooks domineering. Their bowling attack has also completely adapted to the home conditions. Mahesh Theekshana This is proving to be a nightmare for the batsmen in the powerplay.
In contrast, Australia is a team that is under siege. Problems arose such as injuries to key personnel. Michelle Marsh (Waist), he has struggled to find rhythm. Defeat here will not mathematically end their journey, but it will leave them at the mercy of other results. spotlight will be on travis head And glen maxwell to provide the explosive starts they are known for, while the potential return of Marsh could provide the spark of leadership they desperately need.
Australia vs SL, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details
- date and time: 16 February; 07:00 PM IST / 1:30 AM GMT
- venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
Australia vs Sri Lanka, head-to-head record (T20I)
Matches played: 26 | Australia won: 15 | sri lanka won: 10 | tied/no result: 1
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
Hopefully the surface will be hard and dry initially, providing good carry. The batsmen can take advantage of the new ball, as seen in Sri Lanka’s huge score against Oman earlier this month. As the match progresses, the pitch becomes more manageable. Spinners and fast bowlers with deceptive “pace-off” deliveries (such as Mathisha Pathirana) will become quite dangerous in the second half of each innings. Statistically, teams batting first have a slight advantage here and as the ball gets older and the surface gets slower, it becomes difficult to chase.
squads
Australia: Josh Inglis (wk), Travis Head (c), Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnman, Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pawan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Velalej, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Mahish Theekshana, Mathisha Pathirana, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Pramod Madushan, Zenith Liyanage.
Australia vs SL, T20 World Cup 2026: Today Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Australia won the toss and batted first
- Australia Powerplay Score: 40-50
- Australia’s total score: 150-160
Case 2:
- Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first
- Sri Lanka Powerplay Score: 45-55
- Sri Lanka’s total score: 165-175
Match result: The team batting first wins the competition.
