Sri Lanka (184/2) defeat Australia (181) to advance to Super 8 stage, leaving opposition on the brink of elimination from T20 World Cup 2026

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Thankyou Lanka. Won 50k. What a world T20 for me so far. Beautiful .

Congratulations.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Its me who said "They become beasts in ICC events" LOL! and thats okay !

Yeah, their T20 WC form has been poor. And going forward with the 3 great pacers at the end of their careers - Starc Hazlewood Cummins - they will not find it easy in the upcoming WCs. But folks saying Aus doesnt take T20Wcs seriously is total BS as you said.. They take every WC seriously , its just that they havent been good at T20 WCs and thats the reality !

I also say it. But some of them use that phrase just to undermine other teams. India apart from few slip ups are way superior to Australia in ICC events in the last 15 yeasr. I am not including that fake WTC. Just LOIs.

Since 2010 in ICC ODI events

ICC T20 world cup

 

[jnaveen1980]

Aussie youth is not interested in Cricket anymore. They have really small population to begin with. probably couple Million who really are interested to watch or play

How? They were the under-19 world cup winner last time. They reached semi final this year.

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

How? They were the under-19 world cup winner last time. They reached semi final this year.

U19 is nt serious cricket..plz

 

[JaDed]

Interesting lol now only Zim doesn’t screw up

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Australia’s chances of progressing to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup are virtually over after Pathum Nissanka struck a magnificent unbeaten century to lead Sri Lanka national cricket team to an emphatic eight-wicket victory in Pallekele.

Reeling from a shock defeat to Zimbabwe national cricket team on Friday, Australia national cricket team needed a win to keep their qualification hopes in their own hands. Instead, it is Sri Lanka who advance to the next round.

For Australia to scrape through as runners-up in the group, they must now rely on Zimbabwe losing both of their remaining matches against Ireland national cricket team and Sri Lanka, while also defeating Oman national cricket team themselves — a scenario that would leave net run rate to decide their fate.

Australia’s troubles stemmed from their failure to capitalise on a flying start by Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. The pair powered their side to 104 without loss in just 8.2 overs, laying a strong foundation. Head smashed 59 off 27 balls, while Marsh contributed a brisk 54 on his return from a groin injury. However, once Head departed, Australia’s innings unravelled dramatically. They collapsed in the latter stages, losing their final five wickets for just seven runs in 14 deliveries, and were bowled out for 181 after appearing set for a much bigger total.

Although the surface was expected to slow down and make chasing tricky, Sri Lanka made light work of the target. With Australia missing the injured trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, their bowling attack lacked penetration.

Nissanka and Kusal Mendis made the most of it. Mendis played the perfect supporting role with a calm 51 from 38 balls, while Nissanka reached his hundred in just 52 deliveries. His innings combined elegance and aggression, guiding Sri Lanka comfortably past the target.

Australia are now left clinging to faint mathematical hopes and will anxiously monitor Zimbabwe’s clash with Ireland on Tuesday.

 

[deltexas]

Aussie youth is not interested in Cricket anymore. They have really small population to begin with. probably couple Million who really are interested to watch or play

Cricket will never be the #1 game in Aus but to say Aus youth is not interested in cricket anymore is an absolute stretch. Aus may not be the #1 going forward but they will always be in the top 3 FWIW.

 

[Devadwal]

Sanath Jayasuriya said "Sridhar our fielding coach & Vikram our batting coach, both are from India - really good gentlemen we have, they do want whatever we want, working with players really well".

should Pakistan hire Indian coach?

 

[deltexas]

Australia’s chances of progressing to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup are virtually over after Pathum Nissanka struck a magnificent unbeaten century to lead Sri Lanka national cricket team to an emphatic eight-wicket victory in Pallekele.

Reeling from a shock defeat to Zimbabwe national cricket team on Friday, Australia national cricket team needed a win to keep their qualification hopes in their own hands. Instead, it is Sri Lanka who advance to the next round.

For Australia to scrape through as runners-up in the group, they must now rely on Zimbabwe losing both of their remaining matches against Ireland national cricket team and Sri Lanka, while also defeating Oman national cricket team themselves — a scenario that would leave net run rate to decide their fate.

Australia’s troubles stemmed from their failure to capitalise on a flying start by Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. The pair powered their side to 104 without loss in just 8.2 overs, laying a strong foundation. Head smashed 59 off 27 balls, while Marsh contributed a brisk 54 on his return from a groin injury. However, once Head departed, Australia’s innings unravelled dramatically. They collapsed in the latter stages, losing their final five wickets for just seven runs in 14 deliveries, and were bowled out for 181 after appearing set for a much bigger total.

Although the surface was expected to slow down and make chasing tricky, Sri Lanka made light work of the target. With Australia missing the injured trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, their bowling attack lacked penetration.

Nissanka and Kusal Mendis made the most of it. Mendis played the perfect supporting role with a calm 51 from 38 balls, while Nissanka reached his hundred in just 52 deliveries. His innings combined elegance and aggression, guiding Sri Lanka comfortably past the target.

Australia are now left clinging to faint mathematical hopes and will anxiously monitor Zimbabwe’s clash with Ireland on Tuesday.

Aus supporters getting the feel of Kudrat ka Nizam now !! They can take some tips from Pak followers on how to handle the stress and anguish !

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

Cricket will never be the #1 game in Aus but to say Aus youth is not interested in cricket anymore is an absolute stretch. Aus may not be the #1 going forward but they will always be in the top 3 FWIW.

i said most of them not all

They will be in top 3 because of their Inherent professionalism

Pat Cummins had CWC trophy in his cart at airport and nobody even noticed him. Imagine that happening in India?

 

[deltexas]

i said most of them not all

They will be in top 3 because of their Inherent professionalism

Pat Cummins had CWC trophy in his cart at airport and nobody even noticed him. Imagine that happening in India?

Yeah cant compare the cricket crazy SC nations to other SENA nations. We will have open top parades and week long holiday celebrations and players will be on every TV news show milking it as much as they can !
If a table tennis team from Ind or Pak wins the WC, dont think we will be having rousing receptions for them but teams like China or S Korea would as its just more popular there..

 

[JaDed]

Sanath Jayasuriya said "Sridhar our fielding coach & Vikram our batting coach, both are from India - really good gentlemen we have, they do want whatever we want, working with players really well".

should Pakistan hire Indian coach?

These coaches are for refinement and at best making slight adjustments, PCT has fundamental issues that get exposed for players that are playing for long..

 

[Kianig89]

So Australian press will have a melt down now , waiting for SMH & others

 

[jnaveen1980]

U19 is nt serious cricket..plz

Only in pakistan that too recently because they don't get to finals.. It was followed avidly by pak fans as well 15 years back. lol It has given almost all the legends that are playing. Kohli, Smith, Williamson, Root, Southee, Brook.. the list goes on and on. It is one of the most followed ICC event for the last 20 years or so at junior level.

 

[deltexas]

So Australian press will have a melt down now , waiting for SMH & others

They will make some tough calls and cull a few players. Steve Smith, Maxwell, Stoinis I think have played their last T20I for Aus if they dont enter the super 8s. Maybe even Zampa..

 

[jnaveen1980]

i said most of them not all

They will be in top 3 because of their Inherent professionalism

Pat Cummins had CWC trophy in his cart at airport and nobody even noticed him. Imagine that happening in India?

That is not a reflection of "they don't care". They don't have celebrity culture. They had serious melt down after they lost their fortress gabba test to India.

 

[Kriketer]

Aus supporters getting the feel of Kudrat ka Nizam now !! They can take some tips from Pak followers on how to handle the stress and anguish !

Nothing like the deep sorrow and anguish feels for months when ocean of blue lost WC final at home not long ago

 

[harshjoshi87]

They were a good team from 1996 till 2015.

They won the 2014 World T20.

Their decline started after Sanga, Mahela, Dilshan etc. retired.

You know much better coming from the same tiny island.

 

[deltexas]

Nothing like the deep sorrow and anguish feels for months when ocean of blue lost WC final at home not long ago

Thats OK ! Its a game of cricket, you lose to a better team on the day , no shame in that ! But atleast you lose to a better prepared , better planned team and not to a team that constantly depends and prays on Kudrat ka Nizam instead of putting the hard yakka !

 

[jnaveen1980]

Nothing like the deep sorrow and anguish feels for months when ocean of blue lost WC final at home not long ago

You are mocking INdia's loss to Australia. Did you forget both teams kicked you out from first round? Not to mention Afghanistan also kicked you out.

 

[Kriketer]

Good chase by Sri Lanka. That's how you do it. Aussies lost 3-0 to Pakistan so their struggle and early exit was on the card. Pakistani batsmen should take a note on how to chase big scores

 

[harshjoshi87]

Bumrah played 2 WTC finals , one CWC final and 2019 Semi. Did nt make much difference. He did have impact in 2024 final. thats the only tournament i can think of whete Bumrah's presence was consequential

Bumrah didn't play WTC '23 final.

ODI WC '23 final was lost because India chose to play at panauti stadium, which they are doing this year too.

 

[Kriketer]

Thats OK ! Its a game of cricket, you lose to a better team on the day , no shame in that ! But atleast you lose to a better prepared , better planned team and not to a team that constantly depends and prays on Kudrat ka Nizam instead of putting the hard yakka !

as in also losing 3-0 at home recently in the ultimate cricket form?

Yes it's just a game so was just a reminder that qudrat ka nizam circles around

 

[deltexas]

as in also losing 3-0 at home recently in the ultimate cricket form?

Yes it's just a game so was just a reminder that qudrat ka nizam circles around

Lost to a better team NZ at home. I dont want team any team depending on the nizam.. I would rather they play and qualify on their own and not depend on others in libe every single tournament. Was surprised u didnt bring up 17 CT and 92 WC win..

 

[jnaveen1980]

as in also losing 3-0 at home recently in the ultimate cricket form?

Yes it's just a game so was just a reminder that qudrat ka nizam circles around

 

[Cricfan8920]

Aus although won one T20 WC, never really took this format seriously.

 

[Kriketer]

Lost to a better team NZ at home. I dont want team any team depending on the nizam.. I would rather they play and qualify on their own and not depend on others in libe every single tournament. Was surprised u didnt bring up 17 CT and 92 WC win..

Not talking about Pakistan. There are numerous example to choose from for Indian team from recent times too so just a quadrati nizam reminder hai

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I also say it. But some of them use that phrase just to undermine other teams. India apart from few slip ups are way superior to Australia in ICC events in the last 15 yeasr. I am not including that fake WTC. Just LOIs.

Since 2010 in ICC ODI events

ICC T20 world cup

only the trophy matter in ICC events.
w/l ratio is not important.

 

[Kriketer]

Is he referring to Australia since they lost 3-0 to Pakistan just 2 weeks ago?

And who is even going to play this game when there are already only 5-6 teams playing this game anyway

 

[imranq]

they have no bowling

 

[jnaveen1980]

only the trophy matter in ICC events.
w/l ratio is not important.

They are leading in that as well post 2010. India was consistently dominating .

 

[jnaveen1980]

Is he referring to Australia since they lost 3-0 to Pakistan just 2 weeks ago?

And who is even going to play this game when there are already only 5-6 teams playing this game anyway

Didn't you take about the test format a while back? lol

 

[DeadlyVenom]

They are leading in that as well post 2010. India was consistently dominating .

This is the most important. If India wins the next ODI WC, they will be a challenger to Australia's hegemony.

 

[Cricfan8920]

This is the most important. If India wins the next ODI WC, they will be a challenger to Australia's hegemony.

Very unlikely though

 

[jnaveen1980]

This is the most important. If India wins the next ODI WC, they will be a challenger to Australia's hegemony.

I don't think it matters they ahve to go past Australia's hegemony. We just hope they continue to dominate in the coming era. Hope guys like Vaibhav suryavanshi graduates alongwith other young talents and wins more trophies and more wins. If Trophy is the only thing that brings joy to fans most of the fans would remain permanently sad. Series wins, match wins even super over win will bring joy to fan. India won 10 matches in a row in 2023 world cup. Even Australian fans conceded India will trounce Australia. So fate had it India went with a rubbish pitch and backfired. It shouldn't take away from whatever they did up until that point.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Didn't expect Australia to do a Pakistan.

Lose to Zimbabwe and then hope for other results to go their way.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Didn't expect Australia to do a Pakistan.

Lose to Zimbabwe and then hope for other results to go their way.

Absolute surrender during spin phase even with Srilanka a bowler down and main man Hasaranga out. The same srilankan team wasbashed all over by Stoinisin 2022 world cup in Australia.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I don't think it matters they ahve to go past Australia's hegemony. We just hope they continue to dominate in the coming era. Hope guys like Vaibhav suryavanshi graduates alongwith other young talents and wins more trophies and more wins. If Trophy is the only thing that brings joy to fans most of the fans would remain permanently sad. Series wins, match wins even super over win will bring joy to fan. India won 10 matches in a row in 2023 world cup. Even Australian fans conceded India will trounce Australia. So fate had it India went with a rubbish pitch and backfired. It shouldn't take away from whatever they did up until that point.

Yes it does take away if they don't win the trophy. Nobody cares about rest of the matches. Most of the matches are filler in the long ODI world cup format.

Fans joy is a separate thing. Fans can get happy with Hong Kong sixes like some Pakistan fans did. Doesnt make it a big sporting achievement.

 

[shamaan]

A stunning century that won Sri Lanka the game.

 

[Mas-LFC]

Well done SL.

Now if Zimbabwe win against Ireland. Australia are out.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Absolute surrender during spin phase even with Srilanka a bowler down and main man Hasaranga out. The same srilankan team wasbashed all over by Stoinisin 2022 world cup in Australia.

I don't know if its the same side. Nissanka and Mendis are far better batters 4 years on I feel. But Sri Lanka's bowling in this game definitely wasn't anything special. And Pathirana left the field after bowling just a couple of balls. Not to mention they started off 100-0 in like 8.5 overs. Amazing meltdown by the Australians. And it's not like they were missing any of their key batters. They lost 4 wickets for 6 runs in the last two overs too.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The way Nissanka was bullying the Australians was truly a sight to behold. It's rare to see them go under the pump like this even when they are missing some of their key players. And good god, the way the ball was pinging off his bat... every shot was timed to perfection.

 

[Smbhayi]

In first page, Australia already scored enough runs.. with the loss of Hasaranga and Pathirana they gonna get thrashed by even minnows.. in the end SL thrashed Aussies..

 

[jnaveen1980]

Yes it does take away if they don't win the trophy. Nobody cares about rest of the matches. Most of the matches are filler in the long ODI world cup format.

Fans joy is a separate thing. Fans can get happy with Hong Kong sixes like some Pakistan fans did. Doesnt make it a big sporting achievement.

FIller matches? Even against top teams India has W/L ratio of 4.8 Australia mere 1.5 post 2010. So not sure India dominated this period that's all that matters. They don't have to win every goddamn tournament. West Indies did not win a single ODI world cup in the 1980s yet their legacy is still praised because they dominated. They even lost Benson hedges which was sort of like CT knock out. India won 2. Can we say India dominated 1980s legacy as they won the most multi national titles?

 

[jnaveen1980]

The way Nissanka was bullying the Australians was truly a sight to behold. It's rare to see them go under the pump like this even when they are missing some of their key players. And good god, the way the ball was pinging off his bat... every shot was timed to perfection.

I became a fan of Nissanka afte this shot

 

[BDfanforever]

Well done SL.

Now if Zimbabwe win against Ireland. Australia are out.

Yes, and India can play Semifinal against USA or Zimbabwe at Mumbai.

 

[Mockingbird]

But Australia is not truly out of it, is it? There is no guarantee that Zim will defeat Ireland & will not lose to SL by a big margin. The qualification is not impossible.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

 

[Mas-LFC]

But Australia is not truly out of it, is it? There is no guarantee that Zim will defeat Ireland & will not lose to SL by a big margin. The qualification is not impossible.

Zimbabwe beat Ireland, its game over for Aus. Aus need Ireland to win and SL to hammer Zimbabwe by 50plus runs, to bring Zim rr down. Australia then will get a chance but needs to smash 220 plus and bowl Oman out less than 80.

 

[SportsWarrior]

How? They were the under-19 world cup winner last time. They reached semi final this year.

Aussie youth is not interested in Cricket anymore. They have really small population to begin with. probably couple Million who really are interested to watch or play

all this cope. The reality is cricket viewership in Aus is booming. Even BBL which was a joke few years back is now topping viewership charts. Ashes broke viewership records and even did well even compared to AFL. This is impressive considering cricket loses many seats due to sight screens. They will do fine.

WBBL|11 and BBL|15 smash viewership records | Melbourne Stars

Live cricket coverage, live streaming, cricket highlights, live scores, breaking news, video, analysis and expert opinion.

www.melbournestars.com.au

MCG sets new all-time cricket attendance record | MCG

A record-breaking 94,199 fans have filled the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Day 1 of the NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Ashes Test between Australia and England, marking the highest crowd ever recorded for a cricket match at the venue.

www.mcg.org.au

 

[SportsWarrior]

Yes, and India can play Semifinal against USA or Zimbabwe at Mumbai.

why not? if they come to semis, they clearly deserve more than your talentless team which has a net zero semifinal appearances in a world cup

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

all this cope. The reality is cricket viewership in Aus is booming. Even BBL which was a joke few years back is now topping viewership charts. Ashes broke viewership records and even did well even compared to AFL. This is impressive considering cricket loses many seats due to sight screens. They will do fine.

WBBL|11 and BBL|15 smash viewership records | Melbourne Stars

Live cricket coverage, live streaming, cricket highlights, live scores, breaking news, video, analysis and expert opinion.

www.melbournestars.com.au

MCG sets new all-time cricket attendance record | MCG

A record-breaking 94,199 fans have filled the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Day 1 of the NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Ashes Test between Australia and England, marking the highest crowd ever recorded for a cricket match at the venue.

www.mcg.org.au

Cope of what? you seem to be triggered because i called Aussie t20 team an after thought of their Cricketing prows? lol
Viewrship numbers alone dnt prove that cricket holds same value for an average white Aussie kid . In the Under-12 national talent programs most of them around 40% hold south Asian heritage. Considering that community is only 6% of the population, it shows they are the ones obsessed with the game, while other groups are leaving in droves.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Poor Aussies. Their bowling is club level without Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I became a fan of Nissanka afte this shot

He played this shot tonight aswell. And though it wasn't as good as thisthe two things they had in common were the timing, and that sound the bat made when the ball hit the middle.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He played this shot tonight aswell. And though it wasn't as good as thisthe two things they had in common were the timing, and that sound the bat made when the ball hit the middle.

He is a proper cricketer no ugly swipe.

 

[SportsWarrior]

Cope of what? you seem to be triggered because i called Aussie t20 team an after thought of their Cricketing prows? lol
Viewrship numbers alone dnt prove that cricket holds same value for an average white Aussie kid . In the Under-12 national talent programs most of them around 40% hold south Asian heritage. Considering that community is only 6% of the population, it shows they are the ones obsessed with the game, while other groups are leaving in droves.

so now the goalposts have changed. I showed you that cricket is now more popular and problem are actually watching. Now the goalposts posts is white Australians are not playing it. So? Are brown Australians not aussies enough? Irrespective of their ethnicity they are all Australians and Australians are actually paying and watching cricket more than in the past.

 

[jnaveen1980]

This nonsensical narrative that Aussies don't care about T20 is a wild theory. Australians don't take losses lightly in ICC events.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

They will make some tough calls and cull a few players. Steve Smith, Maxwell, Stoinis I think have played their last T20I for Aus if they dont enter the super 8s. Maybe even Zampa..

Not Zampa, I don't think. But the others are definitely done

 

[Sachin fan]

You are mocking INdia's loss to Australia. Did you forget both teams kicked you out from first round? Not to mention Afghanistan also kicked you out.

Imagine the mentality where they think fighting hard till the final is some kind of bad thing. No wonder they give up in initial stages itself.

 

[prash88]

Australia's elimination increases India's chance to win this whole thing greatly.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Australia's elimination increases India's chance to win this whole thing greatly.

Australia weren't real challengers after injuries to Hazelwood & Cummins.

South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand are the teams India need to watch out for.

Hope there is less dew in 2nd innings in Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata at back end of the World Cup.

 

[prash88]

Australia weren't real challengers after injuries to Hazelwood & Cummins.

South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand are the teams India need to watch out for.

Hope there is less dew in 2nd innings in Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata at back end of the World Cup.

India is way better than other teams. India is better than Australia also but Aussies have power packed batting that failed in SL pitches but in a crucial knockout game against India under dew in Wankhede or Ahmedabad they could chase anything and Travis Head always performs...

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

so now the goalposts have changed. I showed you that cricket is now more popular and problem are actually watching. Now the goalposts posts is white Australians are not playing it. So? Are brown Australians not aussies enough? Irrespective of their ethnicity they are all Australians and Australians are actually paying and watching cricket more than in the past.

Its a fact that White Aussies who Made Aussies world beaters not the immigrants. and those white Kids are not intetested in Cricket anymore. iT has nothing to do with viewrship or Goalpost. Im not playing a soccer games with you to shift goal posts lol stop getting triggered

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Whenever they play just after ashes, bbl, they do bad. Same for India, just after an ipl, series/ tourney are bad for us.

Nothing much to read, they won all icc events just before 2024. Others are winning it in this cycle. Its ok

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Its a fact that White Aussies who Made Aussies world beaters not the immigrants. and those white Kids are not intetested in Cricket anymore. iT has nothing to do with viewrship or Goalpost. Im not playing a soccer games with you to shift goal posts lol stop getting triggered

Cricket was never no 1 sport even in 2000s in aus. It is no 2 or 3 and always will be. As long as Ashes exists, england and aus will keep playing the game and churning players, don't worry much about them. With bbl, they are seeing better revenues and $$ compared to 20 years back when there used to be a tri series in jan.

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

Cricket was never no 1 sport even in 2000s in aus. It is no 2 or 3 and always will be. As long as Ashes exists, england and aus will keep playing the game and churning players, don't worry much about them. With bbl, they are seeing better revenues and $$ compared to 20 years back when there used to be a tri series in jan.

again the percentage of white Aussie population that was intetested in playing the game has gone down by at least 50%. its not about no 1 or no 2 on the list or revenues

 

[harshjoshi87]

India is way better than other teams. India is better than Australia also but Aussies have power packed batting that failed in SL pitches but in a crucial knockout game against India under dew in Wankhede or Ahmedabad they could chase anything and Travis Head always performs...

In T20 World Cups India has wood over Australia even in knockout matches, so even if they qualify no problem for the defending World Champions.

 

[harshjoshi87]

Cricket was never no 1 sport even in 2000s in aus. It is no 2 or 3 and always will be. As long as Ashes exists, england and aus will keep playing the game and churning players, don't worry much about them. With bbl, they are seeing better revenues and $$ compared to 20 years back when there used to be a tri series in jan.

Tri-Series was 1000 times better than the current BBL

Cricket Australia should start tri-series again.

 

[shah9425]

SL will be a dangerous opponent at home for everyone

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pavan Rathnayake has been a very good addition to the Sri Lankan World Cup squad. He was added late after Dhananjaya de Silva was dropped and selected pretty much on the basis of his ODI form. But Sri Lanka desperately needed an in-form batter like him in their middle-order so good on them for getting him in.