Australia Vs Sri Lanka Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Pathum Nissanka's Century Brings AUS Closer To Tournament Ouster

Hello cricket fans! Forget Monday blues as we are here with the live coverage of match 30 between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium. Stay tuned for the live score and real-time updates of the match.

Match: Australia vs Sri Lanka

Venue: Pallekele International Stadium

Date: 16, February, 2026

Matches: 26

Australia: 16

Sri Lanka: 10

While Australia are set to take Sri Lanka in an all-important Group B match, in Group A India beat their arch-rivals Pakistan by 61 runs in Colombo. Check out how the players reacted after the win against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bowl first at Pallekele.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim David, Josh Inglis(w), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka(c), Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

Australia are off to a decent start in the first over with two boundaries and a six. Both Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh have a big responsibility to take their team to a decent start in this all-important match.

AUS 16/0 (1)

Australia are off to a flying start at the Pallekele International Stadium. Travis Head and Mitchell March are going strong and the injury to Matheesha Pathirana has added to the woes of Sri Lanka.

AUS 32/0 (3)

The powerplay is done and dusted and the Australian openers are putting on a show in Pallekele. Mitchell Marsh smashed Maheesh Theekshana for five fours in an over to take Australia's powerplay score to 70. Danger signs for SL and Aussie openers are looking in full flow.

AUS 70/0 (6)

Kamindu Mendis gets the priced wicket of Travis Head, who got out after slamming 56 runs off just 29 balls. It's a big wicket for SL but is the damage already done. Cameron Greens joins Mitchell Marsh on the crease.

AUS 105/1 (9)

It has been an innings of two contrasts so far, while Australia dominated the first half on the back of a superb 104-run opening stand by Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. But Sri Lankan bowlers have pulled things back spectacularly since then by getting quick four wickets, which has also halted the scoring rate.

AUS 131/4 (13)

After a flurry of quick wickets, Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell have forged a 30-run stand between them for the 5th wicket. SL fielders have also helped them by missing some straightforward chances. Can both these batters make them pay, remains to be seen.

AUS 160/4 (16)

Sri Lanka bowlers made a scintillating comeback in the second half of the innings to bundle Australia for 181 after being 104/0 in 8.2 overs. Dushan Hemamtha turned out to be the pick of the bowlers, scalping three wickets, meanwhile Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh slammed half-centuries to take AUS to a competitive score.

AUS 181 (20)

Yeah, I think so (would they have taken this score at the start). It looked like it slowed up in the second half of the innings. So, yeah, the powerplay was really important for us. As the innings goes on, hopefully it deteriorates. It’s always the easiest time to bat against the new ball. Nice to get off to a start and nice to have Mitch back. Partnership rolled along. One of us would’ve liked to go on with it, but that’s the game. we’ve got ourselves a score. I think you can see that there's a bit of spin there, and as the ball gets softer, so it all happens quickly. But, yeah, we've got a bit of time now to debrief that and communicate what we thought went well for them

Kusal Perera goes back early on in the run-chase as Aussies struck in the 2nd over of the innings via Marcus Stoinis. Big blow this given how Perera loves batting against the Aussies.

SL 26-1 (3 Overs)

AUS 181 (20)

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis have kept the pressure on the AUS bowlers, with a run-rate of 10.17.

SL 61-1 (6 Overs)

AUS 181 (20)

Pathum Nissanka (44*) and Kusal Mendis (46*) have stitched a 85-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take Sri Lanka to a strong score after 10 overs. Danger signs for Australia as the wicket is playing good and both batters are set, only wickets can give them a chance to stay in the game.

SL 93/1 (10)

Nathan Ellis gives Australia the 2nd breakthrough by sending back Kusal Mendis for 51. It was a much-needed wicket for AUS as SL were cruising in the run-chase. It still looks like a straightforward chase for SL unless AUS chip in with back-to-back wickets.

SL 113/2 (13)

It was a close call for Rathnayake in the 16th over, where he barely escaped twice in the over. First some inches behind the line saved him in a close third umpire call and then Jos Inglis made a mess of a stumping chance behind the wicket.

SL 151/2 (16)

That's a wrap from our end. We'll be back soon with another blog soon, until then, bye bye.