A roaring Pallekele witnessed Sri Lanka’s audacious 8-wicket demolition of Australia, propelling them into T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s with a statement chase of 182 in 18 overs. The win, their third on the trot, reignites hopes of a deep run.
Head (56) and Marsh (54) forged a 104-run stand to propel Australia to 181, but it wasn’t enough. Nissanka’s flawless 100* (52 balls, 15 hits to fence) and Mendis’ 51 guided Sri Lanka home effortlessly.
Shanaka, post-match, dissected the triumph: ‘Among our peak shows recently. Bowling held firm sans Pathirana; we stayed upbeat. Trust in selves and pitch insight were decisive. Players’ intent was visible everywhere.’
Injuries to Pathirana (hamstring) and prior Hasaranga absence sting, yet Shanaka eyes ahead: ‘Positives outweigh.’ He foresaw Nissanka’s blitz, with toss talks cementing field-first gamble on diminutive boundaries.
Super 8 qualification thrills: ‘Years since last time—pure joy. Fans, your energy fueled us. Aiming for semis.’ Sri Lanka’s resilience amid adversity positions them as T20 contenders, shaking up the tournament landscape.