SL vs AUS Match 30 Commentary - Kandy (16 February 2026)

 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!

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!

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.

 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!

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.

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.

FIFTY FOR KUSAL MENDIS! His third consecutive half century in this World Cup. Pushed through, full and on middle, Mendis lunges in front and clips it to widish long on for a single. The players and the coaches in Sri Lankan dugout are up on their feet. He becomes the 5th player to score back-to-back three fifties in a T20 World Cup.

A touch short, spinning in sharply, tucked into the leg side for a single. 100 UP FOR SRI LANKA!

Short of a length on the stumps. Mendis hangs back and clips it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Full and outside off, Pathum Nissanka drops to a knee and sweeps it to deep square leg for a couple of runs.

 FIFTY FOR PATHUM NISSANKA NOW! Off just 32 balls. On a length on the stumps at 96.9 kph, Pathum Nissanka hangs back and works it through mid-wicket for a single. A slight hesitation at the start, but it ends well for him and Sri Lanka as they cross strikes. 19th T20I fifty for Nissanka. He has been simply brilliant in this chase so far.

Good length on the stumps, Glenn Maxwell gets extra bounce. Kusal Mendis shuffles across, goes for the paddle on one knee, but gloves it to short fine.

Full and on the pads, Mendis wrists it to deep square leg for a single.

A big shout for LBW, but not given. Regardless, that's a top nut. A pinpoint yorker, tails in late on the leg stump line. Pathum Nissanka's head falls over as he tries to jam the bat down to carve it to the leg side, but gets a faint inside edge on the right ankle before the ball trickles to the backward square leg region for a single. Pathum is down on the ground and looks in a lot of pain.

The back-of-the-hand slower ball at just 113.6 kph, full and around off, Kusal Mendis waits and then eases it through covers for a single.

Pulls his length back and goes pace off again, at 112.5 kph. Pathum Nissanka presses back and pulls it to deep square leg for a run.

At pace now, full and outside off, Kusal Mendis gets on the front foot and drives it all along the carpet to deep cover for one more.

Full again, outside off, Pathum Nissanka leans on and knocks it straight to Mitchell Marsh stationed at extra cover. A quiet over from Australia's point of view. Just 5 from it. Sri Lanka need 84 runs from 54 balls.

Looped up full and on off, Pathum Nissanka advances and runs it down to long off for a single.

 Top effort in the deep! Fraction fuller, on middle, Mendis sweeps it by getting down on a knee. The ball rolls between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket. The former fielder dives to his left and palms the ball to the converging fielder from the latter position. Two taken.

This time, Mendis sweeps the full ball in front of square to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Loopy delivery around off, right in the block hole, Pathum Nissanka squeezes it to the right of backward point for a single.

Around off, pushed to cover.

 Another piece of excellent fielding! Short and wide, Kusal hops back and cuts it past backward point, but Nathan Ellis races across to his left and dives to save a run. The replay shows that it is a clean effort.

 Short and outside off, width offered. Cut away off the back foot to deep point for a single.

Shortish delivery, around off, Kusal cuts it to backward point. 

FOUR! Sri Lanka keep marching on! Cooper lands it full and on off, Kusal Mendis shimmies down the track, plays with the spin and lofts it inside out over cover-point for a boundary.

An in-drifter on a fuller length, sliding on the leg stump and probably going down. Kusal Mendis misses to sweep and the ball thumps the front pad. Cooper appeals for LBW, but not given by the umpire. Marsh has a chat with his bowler, but they decide not to review it. Australia have just one review remaining. And the Ball Tracking later shows that the wickets are umpire's call. So, even if Australia had reviewed it, their review would have been safe.

Flatter around off. Mendis rocks back and guides it to short third.

 FOUR! Excellent shot! Full around leg at 93.9 kph, Kusal Mendis drops to one knee and sweeps it firmly behind square on the on side for four.

 FOUR! Welcome to the attack, mate. A bit of a loosener to start with, short and on middle. Kusal Mendis rocks back and slaps it with a pull shot to deep mid-wicket and long on gap for a boundary.

Nicely tossed up, full and around off, Kusal runs it down to long off for a single.

A touch short, on middle, sliding in, Pathum Nissanka nudges it to long on for a single.

Drags the length back, around off, Kusal goes deep in the crease and punches it to short cover.

Quicker at 96.1 kph, short and outside off, Mendis tries to cut it through the gap, but finds short third.

 FOUR! Into the gap! A short leg break, on middle and leg. Kusal Mendis uses the depth of the crease and pulls it to the leg side, bisecting long on and deep mid-wicket fielders for a boundary. 10 from Zampa's first over.

Flat and full, on off, Kusal presses in front and stabs it to cover-point for a single.

Loopy full toss, on leg, Pathum Nissanka drills it inside out to widish long off for a single.

A bit fuller, on middle, drifts in with the arm, Kusal Mendis pushes at it, gets an inside edge on the boot.

Full and tossed up around off, Kusal Mendis carves it to pierce the cover gap, but Mitchell Marsh dives to his right and cuts the ball, half stopping and parrying it to mid off for a single.

Slides one onto the pads, on a fuller length, Pathum clips it to short fine leg for a single.

Bowled into the batter at 94.9 kph, a touch full and on middle. Mendis makes room by backing away and eases it between cover and point for a single.

 FOUR! Shot! Back of a length around fifth stump at 130.1 kph, Kusal Mendis opens the face and steers it neatly through the gap between backward point and short third for four.

Shoots a sharp bumper, over middle, Kusal ducks under it.

Full and on middle, Kusal flicks to get it past mid-wicket and mid on, but Maxwell dives to his right from mid on and cuts it off. Just a single or else it was running away.

Flirts with the tramline, outside off on a fuller length, Pathum leaves.

 FOUR! A shot of real authority! On a back of a length, on top of the sticks, Pathum Nissanka stays back and pulls it between deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary.

 FOUR! Edged, but just past the keeper! On a hard length, outside off, Pathum flashes hard at it, gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies to the right of the keeper. Josh Inglis flies to that direction, but the ball just evades his gloves before running behind to the fence.

Around the wicket. Full toss angling down the leg side. Mendis looks to play the sweep shot behind square on the onside. He hits it from the toe end to the right of mid on for a single.

Full around middle and leg. Nissanka drives it back to the bowler.

Arm ball on a length around middle and leg. 95.6 kph. Nissanka defends it to cover.

 SIX! KABOOM! Arm ball on a probing length around fifth stump, Pathum Nissanka shuffles across and executes a daring reverse sweep, getting it airborne and clearing the third man fence for a six.

Length ball on middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka nudges it neatly towards deep mid-wicket and comes back for a couple. Pathum Nissanka completes 2500 T20I runs. Second Sri Lankan after Kusal Mendis.

FOUR! Brilliantly done! Short of a length around off at 98.4 kph, Pathum Nissanka rocks back and carves it through the gap between backward point and short third for four.

Begins with a slower one, full and on the pads, Nissanka whips it wide of short fine leg for a single.

At pace now, full in length, on middle, Mendis flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Hits the deck hard, skids through on off, Kusal Mendis tries to jam it back at the bowler, but gets an inside edge on the pads before the ball rolls back to Ellis.

 SIX! Packed and dispatched! Ellis goes full and onto the pads. Kusal Mendis gets inside the line and whips it aerially, and deposits it into the stands behind long leg. That has travelled many a mile.

WIDE! Far outside off, on a fullish length, Mendis lets it be. Wide called.

LBW SHOUT! On a back of a length, zoning in on middle and leg, Kusal Mendis tries to whip it across the line, but gets rapped on the front thigh pad. A massive appeal goes around from the Aussies for LBW, but the umpire is unmoved. Mitchell Marsh runs to Ellis and after a chat, sends it upstairs for a review. No bat involved as the replay itself shows a clear gap between the bat and the pad. All the Australian players head back to their fielding spots before the Ball Tracking loads up. It finally comes and shows the ball projected to miss the leg stump. Australia lose one of their two reviews.

That back-of-the-hand slower ball, full and on off, Mendis presses forward and dabs it in front of point for a quick single.

FOUR! Not convincingly timed, but effective enough! Fuller and on middle and off, Nissanka walks down the track and heaves it to over and to the left of mid on for a boundary.

FOUR! Two in two for Pathum! A bit too straight and short by Xavier, on a good length. Pathum Nissanka uses the pace, stays put and helps it to deep fine leg for a boundary.

 Good gas! At 136.3 kph. On a back of a length, angling into the bodyline. Pathum Nissanka hops off and drops it down the pitch.

Nice and full, on off, Nissanka tries to force the drive to cover, but inside edges it onto the back pad as the ball jags back in a touch.

WIDE! Tries the slower one, but misfires it down leg, full in length. Pathum Nissanka tries to whip it but misses.

Slammed hard into the pitch, over middle, Nissanka swivels and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a run.

 FOUR! Elegant placement! On a back of a length, around off. Kusal waits on it, opens the bat face late and finds the gap between short third and backward point for a boundary.

Excellent work by Josh Inglis. On a length, outside off, Kusal Perera looks to cut but is too close to the ball. Gets a bottom edge which flies past the off stump, heading towards fine leg but the keeper dives to his right and makes a stunning stop.

OUT! CAUGHT! The Sanath Jayasuriya version of the current generation departs cheaply. A short ball, outside off, there to be hit and Perera does hit it. Goes hard at that, but the extra bounce does him in. The ball hits the higher part of the bat and goes very high in the air. Also, he has to reach out for the ball as well, which reduces the power on the shot. Nathan Ellis is waiting for it patiently at deep point and takes the catch. Stoinis has a look at the batter, as if to give a send off, but Perera is not interested. SRI LANKA ARE 8/1. Equation - 174 RUNS, 112 BALLS!

Very full, outside off, Mendis eases this through point for a single.

Hurrying the batter, who manages to push it to the off side for a quick run.

A short ball, around off, Kusal Mendis gets across and looks to pull but is cramped for room. Gets it off the glove through fine leg. Excellent work by Nathan Ellis as he charges to his right from deep backward square leg and dives to push the ball away, saving the boundary. Keeps the batters to a couple.

On middle and off, pushed towards mid on. A wicket and 4 runs from the Hulk's opener.

On a length, around off, Pathum Nissanka is watchful in defense.

On a length, outside off, skidding through, Nissanka hops back and steers it behind point to get off the mark with a single.

Full, around middle and leg, Kusal Perera comes forward and looks to flick but is squared up as the ball moves away a bit. Gets a leading edge which flies through point. No one to catch that as the fielder is at the ropes. A run taken.

SIX! Bye bye ball! Full and straight, sliding onto the pads, Pathum Nissanka uses the extra pace and flicks this beautifully over backward square leg. There is a fielder at the ropes but the ball flies way over! 174 more needed from 116 balls.

Half volley, wide outside off, Pathum drives it beautifully again, but finds cover in his way.

The length is held back a touch. Outside off, PN looks to punch but misses. The bowler is interested in the caught behind appeal, but none of his mates look to agree. 8 from the opening over and the Lankans are up and running.