Co-hosts Sri Lanka produced a dominant display of cricket to win their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group B match against Oman by 105 runs on Thursday at Pallekele. With this comprehensive victory, Sri Lanka has recorded its second consecutive win, topping the Group B table.
Sri Lanka Post Mammoth Total
Once Sri Lanka decided to bat, they came up with a strong total of 225/5 after 20 overs. The home side initially struggled to get rid of their two opening batsmen cheaply, which reduced their score to 42/2. However, the side had a strong counterattack.
Kusal Mendis (61) and Pavan Rathnayake (60) built a vital partnership, which allowed the innings to take shape. Rathnayake turned the game around with some attacking stroke play, which got him a good half-century. Later, Mendis scored some beautiful boundaries before departing.
The real fireworks came from Captain Dasun Shanaka, who smashed a breathtaking 19-ball fifty, the fastest by a Sri Lankan in men’s T20Is. Shanaka smashed five sixes and two fours in an incredible display of power-hitting as Sri Lanka reached beyond the 220-run mark. Late cameos ensured Oman faced an imposing target.
Oman Struggles in Chase
Chasing 226 was always going to be a tough ask, and Oman never truly threatened the target. Early breakthroughs from Dushmantha Chameera (2/19) and Maheesh Theekshana (2/11) restricted Oman to 36/3 in Powerplay, disrupting
Mohammad Nadeem competed bravely with an unbeaten 53, and Wasim Ali contributed briefly but ultimately found the required run rate too high. Oman eventually finished on 120/9 in 20 overs, falling well short of the target.
Sri Lanka in Strong Position
However, the emphatic win has enhanced Sri Lanka’s net run rate, and from that perspective, their chances of qualifying for the next round are high. With their batting potential, aggression, and discipline, the co-hosts look to be reliable contenders in the tournament.