T20 World Cup 2026: Dasun Shanaka’s 19-ball blitz powers Sri Lanka to 105-run rout over Oman

Sri Lanka continued their winning momentum in the T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding 105-run victory over Oman in Match 16 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

After posting a daunting 225 for 5, the co-hosts returned to deliver a disciplined bowling performance, restricting Oman to 120 for nine in their 20 overs. The win marked Sri Lanka’s second straight triumph in Group B, following their win against Ireland in the tournament opener

Chasing an imposing 226, Oman never truly looked in contention. Mohammad Nadeem battled hard for an unbeaten 53, while Wasim Ali chipped in with 27, but the steep asking rate kept climbing. Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintained control throughout, with Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana claiming two wickets apiece to seal a comfortable victory.

Earlier, Sri Lanka’s batting unit put on a show.

Pavan Rathnayake bounced back emphatically after a disappointing outing against Ireland, where he had fallen for 5. The 23-year-old looked determined from the outset, unleashing a sparkling 28-ball 60 studded with eight fours and a six. He raced to his maiden T20I fifty in just 24 deliveries, surpassing his previous best at this very venue earlier in the month.

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Rathnayake shifted gears decisively in the middle overs, taking on pacer Jiten Ramanandi for the innings’ first six before dispatching Sufyan Mehmood for three consecutive boundaries to reach his milestone. Alongside Kusal Mendis, he stitched together a brisk 94-run stand off only 52 balls.

Mendis once again played the anchor’s role with authority. Blending composure with calculated aggression, he struck seven boundaries in his 61 off 45 balls, his second successive half-century of the tournament and 19th in T20 internationals. Smart rotation also played a key role, with Sri Lanka collecting 40 of their 96 runs at the halfway stage through singles and twos. Mendis was eventually run out in the penultimate over, but the foundation had already been laid.

The finishing act belonged to skipper Dasun Shanaka.

Having endured a lean build-up to the tournament with scores of 1, 4 and 0, Shanaka responded in emphatic fashion. He unleashed a breathtaking 19-ball fifty, the fastest ever by a Sri Lankan in T20 World Cup history. Targeting Nadeem Khan and Sufyan Mehmood in the death overs, Shanaka peppered the boundary with a mix of towering sixes and crisp boundaries.

Although both Shanaka and Mendis departed off successive deliveries in the 19th over, Kamindu Mendis ensured the late charge continued. He struck Shah Faisal for back-to-back sixes as Sri Lanka plundered 65 runs in the final four overs, registering the highest total of this edition of the T20 World Cup so far.