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- Sri Lanka vs Oman Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka crush Oman by 105 runs to go top of Group B
Sri Lanka vs Oman Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka crush Oman by 105 runs to go top of Group B
T20 World Cup: Schedule | Points Table
After a quiet start to the campaign, Rathnayake roared back to form with a stunning 60 from just 28 balls, reaching his maiden T20 World Cup fifty in only 24 deliveries. He combined effectively with Kusal Mendis, who played the senior partner’s role with a composed 61 off 45 balls, striking seven boundaries while rotating the strike smartly. Their 94-run partnership kept Sri Lanka well above the required tempo through the middle overs.
The real carnage arrived at the death as Shanaka, coming off a lean run of scores, exploded with a breathtaking 19-ball half-century — the fastest ever by a Sri Lankan in the T20 World Cup. Kamindu Mendis added the finishing touches with two late sixes as Sri Lanka plundered 65 runs in the final four overs.
Oman’s chase crumbled early when Chameera struck twice with the new ball, while Maheesh Theekshana’s miserly 2/11 choked any hopes of a recovery. A brief counterattack from Wasim Ali and a fighting fifty from veteran Mohammad Nadeem provided some resistance, but wickets kept falling in clusters. Oman eventually slumped to 120/9, unable to cope with the mounting scoreboard pressure.
With two wins in two matches, Sri Lanka now sit atop Group B, sending a strong message to rivals about their batting firepower and bowling discipline.
Jiten Ramanandi to Pavan Rathnayake, OUT! BOWLED! Too much cheekiness gets the better of Rathnayake. The 94-run stand has been broken. Rathnayake tries to play the paddle once again but this time, moves across a bit too early. Ramanandi spots the move and keeps it simple, landing it around leg or outside on a length. You miss, I hit, is the principle employed and Rathnayake is beaten by the lack of pace as Jiten takes all the pace off the ball. It beats the scoop and hits the stumps. Fine knock from Rathnayake and Sri Lanka are 136/3 after 13.3 overs!
Jiten Ramanandi to Pavan Rathnayake, On a length, outside off, 116.3 kph, Pavan Rathnayake carves this over point. It is a big boundary on that side and the batters have enough time to come back for the second, by the time deep point can get to the ball. Rathnayaka moves to 60 (27).
Jiten Ramanandi to Kusal Mendis, Full, around off, Kusal Mendis gets down and mows the slog sweep through mid-wicket for a single.
- Pavan Rathnayake 58 (26)
- Kusal Mendis 47 (36)
Sufyan Mehmood to Pavan Rathnayake, FOUR! Hattrick of boundaries, making it 19 runs from the over! Rathnayake is into overdrive now. On a length, around off, Pavan Rathnayake gets down and across and laps it over short fine leg, to make this now the most expensive over of the innings, beating the 17 conceded by Wasim Ali in the 10th over.
Sufyan Mehmood to Pavan Rathnayake, FOUR MORE! He is getting into a different zone now. Outside off, Pavan Rathnayake stands tall and punches it through the covers, beating long off to his left!
Sufyan Mehmood to Pavan Rathnayake, FOUR! 50 IN 24 BALLS FOR RATHNAYAKE! What a counter-punching knock. Not that Sri Lanka were in trouble or anything, but Rathnayake has come out and taken the reins in his hands. This is also the SECOND FASTEST HALF CENTURY BY A SRI LANKAN IN T20 WORLD CUPS, as per Pommie Mbangwa on air. Full and straight, Rathnayake hammers this straight back over the bowler down to the fence.
Sufyan Mehmood to Kusal Mendis, Landed on a length, outside off, 92.1 kph, Kusal smashes it through the covers for a single.
Sufyan Mehmood to Kusal Mendis, Excellent running. Mendis works this full ball through mid-wicket and takes the single. It is Rathnayake who calls for two straightaway and charges back for the second.
Sufyan Mehmood to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! Up and over! On middle, around the good length, Kusal Mendis gets across and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary!
- Kusal Mendis 40 (33)
- Pavan Rathnayake 46 (23)
Jiten Ramanandi to Kusal Mendis, Landed on a length, outside off, 115.2 kph, angling away, Mendis drags the pull through mid-wicket for a single. 12 from the over.
Jiten Ramanandi to Kusal Mendis, Not where he intended. Very full, outside off, Kusal Mendis looks to loft it but gets an outside edge. The ball goes over the leaping cover fielder as the batters collect two runs.
Jiten Ramanandi to Pavan Rathnayake, Around leg stump, Pavan Rathnayake has shuffled way across and clips it through mid-wicket for a run.
Jiten Ramanandi to Pavan Rathnayake, SIX! Oh, that’s stylish! Slightly shorter, on middle and leg, Pavan Rathnayake takes a step forward and launches it effortlessly over deep square leg for a biggie.
Jiten Ramanandi to Kusal Mendis, Full, around off, Kusal Mendis gets down and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a run.
Jiten Ramanandi to Pavan Rathnayake, Mishit, but it lands safe! That was too risky from Pavan Rathnayake. Full, outside off, Pavan Rathnayake moves to his right and exposes his stumps. Tries to play a lap sweep but the ball hits the upper part of his bat. It lobs and lands safely at square leg. They cross.
Jiten Ramanandi introduced now.
- Pavan Rathnayake 38 (20)
- Kusal Mendis 36 (30)
Sufyan Mehmood to Pavan Rathnayake, And there comes the 6th single. Full on middle, Rathnayake flicks it through mid-wicket for another single.
Sufyan Mehmood to Kusal Mendis, This is a good over from Sufyan Mehmood so far. Length, on middle, Kusal Mendis eases it through mid on for yet another single. Five singles so far. No risk involved, just a simple rotation of the strike.
Sufyan Mehmood to Pavan Rathnayake, Landed outside off, punched down to long off for one. 100 UP FOR SRI LANKA. 56 balls left.
Sufyan Mehmood to Kusal Mendis, Hard length and width on offer, Kusal Mendis slaps it through cover for another single.
Sufyan Mehmood to Pavan Rathnayake, On middle, pushed down to long on for a run.
Sufyan Mehmood to Kusal Mendis, A touch fuller from Sufyan Mehmood, on middle and leg, Kusal Mendis shuffles across and knocks it down to long on for a run.
The halfway stage is finally reached after additional drama in the previous over. The current run rate will easily take Sri Lanka post 190 and they will aim for 210-220 today. Sufyan Mehmood returns. 1-0-16-1 so far.
Oh, not again! The umpire hands the bowler his cap back for the second time in this over but the siren goes off once more! Another NO BALL, another FREE HIT!
- Pavan Rathnayake 35 (17)
- Kusal Mendis 33 (27)
Wasim Ali to Pavan Rathnayake, FOUR! The second Free Hit is punished. Floated, around off, Pavan Rathnayake hammers this straight back over the bowler, down the ground. Long on tries to get across, puts in a dive but cannot haul it back in. He tries to parry the ball to his partner from long off but fumbles and the ball meets the ropes. It is referred upstairs and the third umpire confirms it is a boundary. 17 from that over, the costliest in this innings!
Wasim Ali to Kusal Mendis, The bowler gets away with it. Floated, around off, pretty full, Mendis tries to slog it away but cannot quite get underneath the ball. Gets it through to long on for a single. So nothing much on the Free Hit.
Hang on. We thought the over was done. But the siren has blown, which means the bowler has overstepped! NO BALL signalled and a Free Hit is coming up!
Wasim Ali to Pavan Rathnayake, The arm ball, around off, short of full, coming in with the arm, 80.2 kph, Pavan stands tall and punches it down to long off for a single.
Wasim Ali to Pavan Rathnayake, Flatter, on middle and leg, Pavan Rathnayake flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace.
Wasim Ali to Pavan Rathnayake, FOUR! The boundaries have started to flow again. Short and wide outside off, Rathnayake goes back and cuts it between backward point and short third.
Wasim Ali to Pavan Rathnayake, Very good running between the wickets. Wasim Ali goes full, on middle and leg, Pavan Rathnayake flicks it to backward square leg and calls for two. They make it back comfortably before the throw comes in.
Wasim Ali to Pavan Rathnayake, Landed around off, Pavan Rathnayake pushes it towards cover.
Wasim Ali to Kusal Mendis, Wasim Ali keeps it short, outside off, Kusal Mendis stays back and punches it through cover for a single.
- Kusal Mendis 31 (25)
- Pavan Rathnayake 22 (11)
Nadeem Khan to Kusal Mendis, Arrowed on middle, pretty full, Kusal comes forward and whips it through mid-wicket for one.
Nadeem Khan to Kusal Mendis, Flatter, shorter and on off, Kusal Mendis goes deep in his crease and cuts it but finds the fielder at backward point. Dot.
Nadeem Khan to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! Dropped short, outside off, Kusal Mendis rocks back and pulls this powerfully, perfectly bisecting long on and deep mid-wicket! Gets his 5th boundary and moves to 30 (23).
Nadeem Khan to Pavan Rathnayake, Flatter, just outside off, Pavan Rathnayake moves forward and knocks it through mid off for a run.
Nadeem Khan to Kusal Mendis, Full and down the leg side, Mendis goes back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.
Nadeem Khan to Pavan Rathnayake, Much fuller, on off, Pavan Rathnayake takes a step forward and pushes it wide of mid off for a single.
- Kusal Mendis 25 (21)
- Pavan Rathnayake 20 (9)
Wasim Ali to Kusal Mendis, Quick and short outside off, Kusal looks to cut but misses.
Wasim Ali to Kusal Mendis, Good work in the deep! Short ball, on off, Kusal Mendis pulls it through mid-wicket. The fielder at long on runs to his right and stops a possible boundary near the fence. The batters collect two runs.
Wasim Ali to Kusal Mendis, DROPPED! Wasim is wringing his left hand in pain, but that should have been taken. Tossed up, around off, Mendis comes down the track and hammers it straight back. The bowler tries to stick his left hand out but the ball bursts through. By the time long off can get around, two runs are taken.
Wasim Ali to Pavan Rathnayake, Fired in, on off, Pavan Rathnayake drives it through extra cover for another single.
Wasim Ali to Kusal Mendis, Slower through the air, outide off, 86.6 kph, short of full, Kusal Mendis rocks back and guides it behind point for a single.
Wasim Ali to Kusal Mendis, Nice and full, on leg, Kusal Mendis stays back and drills it to long on for a brace.
- Pavan Rathnayake 19 (8)
- Kusal Mendis 18 (16)
Nadeem Khan to Pavan Rathnayake, That turned. Interesting. Pitched outside leg, Rathnayake lunges to defend but the ball spins away, takes the outside edge and drops down.
Nadeem Khan to Pavan Rathnayake, Flighed up this time. A full toss and on off, Pavan Rathnayake takes a step forward and drills it to wide long off. The fielder makes a good stop near the fence and keeps it to two runs.
Nadeem Khan to Kusal Mendis, Short, angling down the leg side, Kusal Mendis goes back and nudges it through square leg for a run.
Nadeem Khan to Pavan Rathnayake, Flatter, fuller and on off, Pavan Rathnayake leans on and knocks it down to long off for a run.
Nadeem Khan to Kusal Mendis, On middle, pushed down to long off for a single.
Rathnayake set the tone with a blazing 60 off 28 balls, smashing eight fours and a six, while Kusal anchored the innings with a composed 61 from 45 deliveries, registering his second successive fifty. The duo stitched together a brisk 94-run stand, keeping the scoring rate high through the middle overs. Shanaka then unleashed a stunning late assault, hammering a 19-ball fifty — the fastest by a Sri Lankan in the tournament — as Sri Lanka added 65 runs in the last four overs.
Oman’s chase never gained momentum after early strikes from Dushmantha Chameera, who removed skipper Jatinder Singh in the opening over. Maheesh Theekshana’s disciplined spell of 2/11 further tightened the grip, triggering a middle-order collapse that left Oman reeling.
Though veteran Mohammad Nadeem fought hard with a valiant fifty, Oman were eventually restricted to 120/9. The comprehensive win lifted Sri Lanka to the top of Group B with two victories from as many games, underlining their growing dominance in the tournament.
Match Statistics
Venue
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
