Lions Roar into Super 8s: Nissanka Masterclass Leaves Australia on the Brink of World Cup Exit

In a night of dramatic contrasts at Pallekele, Sri Lanka surged into the Super Eight stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, delivering a crushing eight-wicket victory that has left Australia’s tournament hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.

Powered by a sublime, unbeaten century from Pathum Nissanka, the co-hosts chased down Australia's competitive 181 with two overs to spare. For the Australians, a match that began with explosive dominance ended in a familiar and worrying collapse, marking their second loss in three group games.

The Nissanka Show

Chasing 182 for victory under the lights, Sri Lanka’s response was nothing short of emphatic. despite losing Kusal Perera early to Marcus Stoinis, the hosts never looked rattled.

Pathum Nissanka produced one of the finest innings of his career, anchoring the chase with a breathtaking 100 off just 52 balls*. His knock, studded with 10 fours and 5 towering sixes, dismantled the Australian attack with surgical precision. He found an able partner in Kusal Mendis (51 off 38), and the duo stitched together a match-winning 97-run partnership that broke the back of the chase.

By the time Pavan Rathnayake (28* off 15) hit the winning boundary, the capacity crowd in Kandy was already in raptures. The victory not only sealed Sri Lanka's progression but sent a stern warning to the rest of the competition: at home, the Lions are a force to be reckoned with.

Australia’s "Great Collapse"

Earlier in the evening, such a result seemed impossible. Welcoming back captain Mitchell Marsh from injury, Australia stormed out of the blocks. Marsh (54 off 27) and Travis Head (56 off 29) brutalized the Sri Lankan powerplay bowling, racing to 104/0 in just 8.3 overs.

At that stage, a total in excess of 220 looked inevitable. But the introduction of spin turned the game on its head.

Dushan Hemantha (3/37) provided the spark, removing Head to trigger a slide that Australia could not arrest. The visitors lost their way completely, crumbling from 104/0 to 181 all out, losing all 10 wickets for just 77 runs. The middle order, including Glenn Maxwell and Tim David, failed to fire against the turning ball, while Sri Lanka’s fielding—highlighted by a spectacular catch from Nissanka to dismiss Maxwell—was electric.

What This Means for Group B

The result has drastic implications for the Group B standings:

• Sri Lanka: Qualified for the Super 8s with a dominant record.

• Australia: Now teetering on elimination. They remain on just 2 points.

For Mitchell Marsh’s men, destiny is no longer in their own hands. They must now rely on a miracle: they need Ireland to defeat Zimbabwe in the upcoming fixture to keep their slim qualification hopes alive. If Zimbabwe wins, the 2021 champions will be packing their bags early.