श्रीलंका vs ऑस्ट्रेलिया, मैच 30, पल्लेकेले इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट स्टेडियम, कैंडी, 16 February 2026 - हाइलाइट्स

Fuller and around off, punched in front of cover for a quick single. Smith, the sub fielder, collects the ball.

OUT! TAKEN! Pallekele goes silent as Stoinis breaks the 97-run partnership for the second wicket. Length ball on middle at 130.9 kph, Kusal Mendis looks to go big with a front foot heave but miscues it towards the longer side of the boundary. It goes high but not far, and Cooper Connolly settles under it at the edge of the boundary to take it safely in the deep mid-wicket region.

 FOUR! Not in control, but in the gap! A bit full and outside off, holds on the surface slightly, Pavan Rathnayake chips it uppishly, but in the gap at cover and it races away to the ropes.

 FOUR! Short of a length outside off. Dunith Wellalage is late on the cut and gets a thick outside edge, which flies between the keeper and short third for a boundary.

On a good length, outside off, steered off the back foot to backward point.

Play and a miss! On a hard length outside off. Rathnayake flashes and misses it on the outside edge as the ball kicks up and breezes past his blade.

Flat and full, outside off, Pathum plays it very late and dabs it to the left of short third for a single.

Full toss outside off, Pavan Rathnayake charges down and drives it straight to short extra cover. He will feel that he missed out.

Short and on off, Pavan drags it across to wide long on for a single.

Full, outside the off stump. Nissanka shimmies forward and nudges it through square leg for a brace.

 BEATEN! Skids through and stays on a length, outside off, Pathum Nissanka tries to play the late cut, but misses.

 FOUR! Quality shot. Tossed up, full and outside off, Pathum Nissanka shimmies down, meets it on the pitch and lofts it straight back over the bowler for four.

 FOUR! Up and over! A gentle-paced delivery, full and outside off, Pavan Rathnayake lifts it over extra cover for a boundary. An error ball from Stoinis with mid off and cover in the ring.

On a length, on the pads, whipped off the back foot to deep backward square leg for a single.

 FOUR! Such a good shot! On a back of a length, outside off, Pathum Nissanka waits for it to arrive and dabs it off the back foot, to the right of short third and it races to the fence.

A bouncer, outside off, Pathum Nissanka jumps down the track and slashes hard but misses.

WIDE. Slower ball goes awry. Full and down the leg side, Nissanka gets down to sweep but misses.

FOUR! Third boundary of the over!  Sri Lanka are rocketing home now. On a length, around off, Nissanka heaves it over the bowler and gets a boundary down the ground!

SIX! FEROCIOUS! Short, outside off, Nisaanka rocks back and heaves it over mid-wicket for a biggie!

Short and flat, outside off, Pavan chop-cuts it to deep point for a single.

Across the batter, on a length, Pathum Nissanka hangs deep in the crease and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Quicker ball, on the stumps, Pavan Rathnayake gets on his knee and smashes it with a flat bat, but straight to Maxwell who stops it on his follow-through, to his left.

FOUR! FETCH THAT! Full, outside off, Pavan Rathnayake gets down on a knee and sweeps this powerfully over mid-wicket. Flat and one bounce into the ropes!

RATHNAYAKE SURVIVES A STUMPING APPEAL. One can say, by the barest of margins. Flighted, outside off, Rathnayake gets down and looks to defend but is drawn forward. The keeper collects the ball and whips the bails off and appeals. The square leg umpire refers this upstairs and the replay shows this to be tight. The third umpire takes a couple of looks and decides that there is something behind the line. Oooff... looks very close.

FOUR! Lucky escape again! Fired, on middle, Pavan Rathnayake comes down the track but is not to the pitch of the ball. He looks to flick but the ball goes off the inside edge, past the keeper and it races through fine leg.

Slower short ball, on off, Nissanka pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Slows it up again, full and around off, from around the stump. Pavan Rathnayake covers the line by shuffling a bit across and drills it to deep mid-wicket for an easy single.

 Full and outside off, Pathum Nissanka leans into it and drills it to long off for a brace. Steve Smith charges in but fumbles on the first attempt, which allows the batters to cross over again. The also brings up 50-run partnership between Nissanka and Rathnayake.

SIX! Nissanka and Sri Lanka are unstoppable! A short ball, following the batter down the leg side, Nissanka backs away to the leg side and throws his bat at it. Connects well and sends this flying over deep backward point!

WIDE. Ellis goes fuller, but this is miles outside off. Left alone.

SIX! CHEEKY! Full, around middle and off, Nissanka gets down and across and laps this beautifully over fine leg! 14 more needed now! 

Full and wide outside off, Pathum slashes this to deep point for one. 18 from the over, 48 in the last 3!

 FOUR! Nissanka moves into the 90s. Zampa dishes out a leg break, full and on middle, Pathum Nissanka gets down on a knee and sweeps it aerially. It goes one bounce into the fence at deep backward square leg. Sri Lanka need 9 more off 17 balls.

Sharp turn, full and on off, Pathum Nissanka uses the depth of the crease and dabs it to backward point.

 FOUR! Just toying around with the field! Full in length, and a googly turning into the stumps, Pathum Nissanka drops to a knee and sweeps it powerfully through square leg, beating deep square leg to his left for a cracking four.

Fuller, around off, Nissanka leans and scoops it over the bowler, down to long on. Rathnayake charges back for the second for his partner. Nissanka on 99!

SECOND T20I CENTURY FOR PATHUM NISSANKA! Pallekele is on its feet. The coach loves it, his country loves it and Nissanka is standing in the middle, with his helmet off and arms aloft! Just 52 balls for his century, comprising of 10 fours and 5 sixes. What a knock. Take a bow. Gets there with a gentle pull through mid on for a single.

FOUR! SRI LANKA WIN BY 8 WICKETS AND QUALIFY FOR THE SUPER 8S! Full, around middle, Pavan Rathnayake gets down on a knee and sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary!