Pathum Nissanka Knocks Australia To Brink Of T20 World Cup Exit With Stunning Century

Pathum Nissanka scored a brilliant ton [Source: @kapildevtamkr/x.com]

Sri Lanka defeated Australia by 8 wickets in Match 30 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Monday and sealed qualification for the Super 8s in style. For Australia, things have gone from bad to worse.

Back-to-back defeats against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have pushed them to the brink of elimination. Now they need a miracle, a big win in their final game against Oman and results elsewhere going their way, which looks like a long shot.

Here's a look at AUS vs SL highlights.

Marsh and Head set the stage on fire

After being put in to bat, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head came out like men on a mission. No sighters, no warm-up, straight into attack mode. The duo went hammer and tongs at the Sri Lankan bowlers and lit up the powerplay.

They stitched together a blazing 104-run stand in just 8.3 overs and made the Aussie innings look like a one-way traffic. Head was in beast mode, smashing 56 off 29 balls with fearless strokeplay all around the park. Marsh matched him shot for shot and brought up a fiery 54 off just 27 deliveries.

Hemantha flips the script

Just when Australia looked ready to run away with the game, Dushan Hemantha stepped in and turned the game. He dismissed Travis Head first and then sent Marsh packing soon after. From cruising at 104/0, Australia suddenly hit the brakes.

The middle order never really got going. Cameron Green, Tim David and Marcus Stoinis all struggled to find rhythm. Josh Inglis tried to steady the ship with a 27, while Glenn Maxwell chipped in with a quick 22, but Sri Lanka kept striking at the right time.

Hemantha finished with three wickets, while Chameera and Wellalage backed him up well. Australia lost 10 wickets for just 77 runs and were bowled out for 181.

Nissanka runs the show after early jolt

If Australia hoped for early wickets, Pathum Nissanka shut that door quickly. After Kusal Perera fell early for 1, Nissanka took charge and never looked back. He played like a man batting on a different pitch. Calm under pressure, brutal when needed.

The opener stitched a crucial partnership with Kusal Mendis that sucked the life out of the Australian attack. Mendis played the perfect second fiddle, scoring a composed 51 off 38 balls and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Their stand ensured Sri Lanka stayed miles ahead in the chase.

Nissanka slams a century to remember

Once Mendis departed, Pathum Nissanka shifted gears again. He brought up a sensational century off just 52 balls with 10 fours and five sixes.

With the game already in Sri Lanka’s pocket, young Pavan Rathnayake walked in and added the finishing touches. His quickfire 28 off 15 balls ensured there were no late nerves as Sri Lanka cruised to 184/2 in just 18 overs.

Australia’s bowlers had no answers. Only Marcus Stoinis managed two wickets. The rest were taken to the cleaners on a batting-friendly surface.

Australia staring at elimination

This result has shaken up Group B big time. Sri Lanka are through to the Super 8s and looking like serious contenders. Their batting is firing and the bowling is delivering when it matters.

Australia, meanwhile, are now hanging by a thread. Two losses on the trot have pushed them to the edge. They need a massive win in their final game and must depend on other results going their way.

In short, qualification is no longer in their hands. And unless something dramatic happens, the Aussies might be packing their bags earlier than expected.