Sri Lanka sent out an early statement at the T20 World Cup 2026 with a crushing 105-run victory over Oman in Kandy, piling up the highest total of the tournament so far before sealing the game with a clinical bowling effort.
Batting first after Oman captain Jatinder Singh opted to field, the co-hosts posted a formidable 225/5, the highest score of this edition and the fourth-highest in Men’s T20 World Cup history. They then restricted Oman to 120/9 to complete a dominant all-round performance.
Sri Lanka were dealt a minor jolt early, losing Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka inside the Powerplay. However, they still raced to 58/2 in the first six overs, setting the tone for what would become a punishing display of strokeplay.
The innings was shaped by a blistering 94-run partnership off just 52 balls between Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake. On a batting-friendly surface, Rathnayake took the aggressive route, smashing eight fours and a six in a breathtaking 60 off 28 deliveries. Mendis, at the other end, provided stability and timing, crafting a composed 61 off 45 balls to anchor the innings.
Captain Dasun Shanaka then turned the screws further. Walking in after Rathnayake’s departure, he unleashed a flurry of big hits against an increasingly stretched Oman attack. Shanaka blazed his way to a half-century in just 19 balls, the fastest T20I fifty for Sri Lanka, finishing with five sixes and two fours in a stunning cameo. The hosts plundered 129 runs in the final 10 overs, including 17 in the last over, to surge past the 200-run mark with ease.
Oman’s bowlers endured a torrid evening, with five of the six used conceding at over 10 runs per over. Jiten Ramanandi picked up two wickets, while Bilal Khan Odedra and Mehmood managed one apiece.
Chasing a daunting 226, Oman never found momentum. They slipped to 36/3 inside six overs after Dushmantha Chameera struck in the opening over, bowling Jatinder Singh with a delivery that clipped the top of off stump. Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza soon followed cheaply, leaving the visitors reeling. A 42-run stand between Mohammad Nadeem and Wasim Ali briefly steadied the innings, but the required rate kept climbing. Nadeem battled on to score an unbeaten 53 off 56 balls, providing a lone bright spot.
Maheesh Theekshana led Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling effort, conceding just 11 runs while taking two wickets, as the co-hosts completed a resounding victory.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 225/5 (Kusal Mendis 61, Pavan Rathnayake 60, Dasun Shanaka 50; Jiten Ramanandi 2/41) beat Oman 120/9 (Mohammad Nadeem 53, Wasim Ali 27; Dushmantha Chameera 2/19, Maheesh Theekshana 2/11) by 105 runs.