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Fans go wild as Pathum Nissanka hits century to send Sri Lanka into Super 8 with win over Australia

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ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Pallekele witnessed a sensational night as Sri Lanka progressed to the Super 8 stage with an impressive eight-wicket win over Australia. The hero of the evening was the opener Pathum NissankaWhose breathtaking unbeaten century thrilled the fans and secured a memorable win.

After a strong start, Australia made a competitive score of 181 runs.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Sri Lanka faced an early challenge as Australia’s top order went on the attack. Captain Mitchell Marsh scored 54 runs in 27 balls, while Travis Head played a stormy inning of 56 runs in 29 balls. The pair stitched a century partnership which put Sri Lanka on the backfoot during the powerplay.

However, Sri Lanka clawed its way back on the back of disciplined bowling. Dushan Hemantha turned the game around by taking three important wickets including Marsh and Head. Support from Dushmantha Chameera and Mahesh Theekshana ensured Australia were restricted to 181 runs in 20 overs.

Despite late performances from Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis, Australia’s middle and lower orders faltered under pressure.

Pathum Nissanka’s century lights up Pallekele

Chasing 182, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera early, but what followed was a masterclass from Pathum Nissanka. Displaying impeccable timing and composure, Nissanka paced the innings seamlessly, building momentum.

He remained unbeaten after scoring a brilliant 100 runs on the boundary line with the help of 10 fours and five sixes in just 52 balls. His strike rate of over 190 highlighted his dominance over the Australian attack.

Partnered by Kusal Mendis, who contributed 51 runs, Nissanka formed a decisive partnership that turned the situation strongly in Sri Lanka’s favour. The duo added 97 runs, neutralizing Australia’s bowlers and maintaining control during the chase.

After Mendis’ dismissal, Nissanka found another capable ally in Pawan Rathnayake, who played a quickfire innings of 28 not out. This pair took Sri Lanka to 184 runs for 2 wickets in just 18 overs.Victory was confirmed with two overs remaining.

Australia’s bowlers, including Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis, struggled to find breakthroughs after Nissanka settled down. Marcus Stoinis was the only bowler to pick up two wickets, but it was insufficient to stop the Sri Lankan attack.

The emphatic win secured Sri Lanka a place in the Super 8 stage and sparked massive celebrations among the fans at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. As Nissanka raised his bat to greet the crowd, slogans echoed throughout the stands.

Also read: Janhvi Kapoor, Ajay Devgan and other Bollywood celebs react to India’s thumping win over Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026

Here’s how fans reacted:

See also: Pathum Nissanka makes a strong effort to dismiss Glenn Maxwell in the AUS vs SL T20 World Cup 2026 game

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