Summary

  • Sri Lanka chase down 182 for loss of just two wickets - report

  • Nissanka hits 52-ball century and takes stunning catch

  • Australia's hopes hanging by a thread following defeat

  • They need Ireland to beat Zimbabwe on Tuesday to retain hope

  • Australia lose last five wickets for seven runs in slumping to 181 all out

  • Openers share 104-run stand before collapse

  • Hemantha takes three wickets as SL fight back

Have your say on the Men's T20 World Cup

Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham

  1. Australia review

    Not bat.

    Australia's players have already gone back to their fielding positions which tells you all you need to know.

  2. Australia review

    Nathan Ellis is begging and pleading with the umpire after striking Kusal Mendis on the pad as he attempted to work it to leg.

    Looks to be sliding down.

  3. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Nathan Ellis was flicked into the leg side. Kusal Mendis using the pace.

    When Australia have got it wrong, they have bowled it down the leg side.

    Sri Lanka are just keeping up with the run rate.

  4. 6 runs

    SL 34-1

    That's gone into the confectionery stalls, and out again.

    Nathan Ellis strays ever so slightly leg side and Kusal Mendis powerfully whips him into the stands for six.

  5. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Xavier Bartlett, again, being expensive.

  6. Get Involved

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    I thought England gave us nerves, Australia wants that badge!

    Fly, Birmingham

  7. SL 26-1

    Kusal Mendis opens the face to Xavier Bartlett, and guides it down through third for four. Handy start by Sri Lanka.

  8. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Putting it into context how much Sri Lanka will rely on their wicketkeeper, Kusal Mendis. He got 56 against Ireland and then got 61 against Oman.

    I would love for this to go down to the absolute wire.

  9. SL 20-1

    Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka bats during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 match between Australia and Sri LankaGetty Images

    Pathum Nissanka demonstratively plants his front foot and then thumps Xavier Bartlett down the ground for four.

    He makes it back-to-back boundaries with a slightly more deft flick for four off his thigh.

  10. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    You do feel like the powerplay for Australia was so good, but then they fell away. With Sri Lanka, they don't have to have the most amazing powerplay. They just need to bat consistently well.

    Great shot from Pathum Nissanka. He has not tried to overhit it, he picks it up, and helps it around the corner.

  11. SL 12-1

    'Calm Down' - a song by Rema and Selena Gomez was playing over the PA system at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium.

    Could apply to either side here.

    Sri Lanka farm the strike to pick up four more runs off Marcus Stoinis.

  12. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Marcus Stoinis of Australia celebrates taking the wicket of Kusal Janith Perera of Sri Lanka with teammatesGetty Images

    Kusal Perera cleared his front leg and Marcus Stoinis went across the left-hander.

    Perera guides it straight to Nathan Ellis in the deep.

  13. wicket

    WICKET

    Perera c Ellis b Stoinis 1 (SL 8-1)

    Kusal Perera advances forward and attempts to slap Marcus Stoinis but ends up hitting it skywards towards backward point.

    Nathan Ellis stations himself under the catch and calmly pouches it.

    Stoinis chews gum calmly. Still work to do.

  14. 6 runs

    SL 8-0

    As easy as you like from Pathum Nissanka who picks up a length delivery and wristly whips it over the boundar behind square leg from Xavier Bartlett's fourth ball.

  15. Get Involved

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    PallekeleGetty Images

    Sri Lanka need to be brave and show some controlled aggression here. If they do that they’ll be able to get the win.

    Leanne

  16. SL 1-0

    Xavier Bartlett starts for Australia.

    Pathum Nissanka defends his first ball before squirting one through point for a single.

  17. This is what the win predictor thinks at the halfway stage...

    WinvizCricviz

  18. Adam Zampa of Australia looks on in the team huddle before they fieldGetty Images

    Thanks, Adwaidh.

    If there's any nerves in their Australia camp they aren't showing during a quick group conflab on the boundary.

    Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera to open for Sri Lanka.

  19. It's been an eventful game in Pallekele so far and I am off to take a breather.

    But my colleague Timothy Abraham will take the wheel as we find out how Sri Lanka fare in their chase.

    Over to you, Tim.

  20. 'It was an important powerplay for us'

    Australia batter Travis Head: "It looked like the pitch slowed up in the second part of the innings so it was an important powerplay for us. It's the easy time to bat against the new ball and nice to have Mitch [Marsh] back. It would have have been nice for one of us to go on.

    "Hopefully it [the pitch] deteriorates now. I think you can see there's a bit of spin there. We have a bit of time to debrief that and take what we can in the second innings."