In a commanding display at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, eighth-ranked Sri Lanka handed twentieth-ranked Oman a comprehensive 105-run defeat in their latest ICC T20 World Cup encounter. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka posted an imposing total of 225 for five, setting the tone for the match and signalling the likely outcome.
Oman’s response faltered early. By the end of the powerplay, they had scored just 36 runs for the loss of three wickets in six overs. From that point, the contest became more about minimising the defeat rather than chasing a victory that gradually slipped out of reach. Oman managed to bat through the full 20 overs but were restricted to 120 for nine, effectively confirming their exit from the tournament.
Mohammad Nadeem was the lone warrior for Oman, remaining unbeaten on 53 from 56 deliveries. His innings was supplemented by Wasim Ali, who contributed 27, and “Mr. Extra” with 15 runs. A fourth-wicket stand of 42 from 36 balls between Nadeem and Ali provided brief respite for the Omani supporters in the Pallekele stands. At 43 years and 161 days old, Nadeem also became the oldest player to score a fifty in an ICC tournament, surpassing the previous record held by Netherlands’ Flavian Aponso (43 years 121 days) during the 1996 World Cup. His 52-ball fifty also equalled the record for one of the slowest fifties in T20 World Cup history, alongside Mohammad Rizwan’s 52-ball fifty against Canada in 2024.
Sri Lanka’s batting was aggressive from the outset. They posted 58 for two in the first six overs of the powerplay, added 88 runs for the loss of one wicket in the next nine overs, and then accelerated to 79 runs for two in the final five overs. Kusal Mendis (61 off 45 balls), Pavan Rathnayake (60 off 28 balls), and captain Dasun Shanaka (50 off 20 balls) all reached half-centuries, with Shanaka also breaking the record for the fastest T20 half-century for Sri Lanka.
The bowling unit backed up the batters’ efforts, with Mahesh Tikshana and Dushmantha Chameera each taking two wickets.
Match Summary:
| Team | Score (Overs) | Top Scorers | Leading Bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 225/5 (20) | K. Mendis 61, P. Rathnayake 60, D. Shanaka 50 | Ramanandi 2/41, Sufiyan 1/60 |
| Oman | 120/9 (20) | M. Nadeem 53*, W. Ali 27 | Tikshana 2/11, Chameera 2/19, Vellalage 1/17 |
Result: Sri Lanka won by 105 runs
Player of the Match: Pavan Rathnayake (Sri Lanka)
In the ‘B’ Group standings, Sri Lanka now tops the table with four points from two matches, having secured back-to-back victories. Australia follows with two points from one match, while Zimbabwe is third on net run rate despite also having two points from one game. Ireland and Oman remain winless with zero points from two matches. Sri Lanka’s dominant performance has reinforced their position as strong contenders for a place in the Super Eight stage.