Sri Lanka hit World Cup 2026 high against Oman
Sri Lanka laid down the marker at the T20 World Cup 2026 with a 105-run win over Oman in Kandy. With the Lankan batters in punishing mood, the co-hosts scored the 225/5, highest total at this T20 World Cup and the fourth highest in Men’s T20 World Cup history. They restricted Oman to 120/9 to register a dominant win.
Oman captain Jatinder Singh won the toss and elected to field on Thursday. Though Sri Lanka lost two early wickets, that of Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka, they were off to a brisk start, ending powerplay on 58/2.
Kusal Mendis (wk) and Pavan Rathnayake made merry on a good batting track. Their 94-run partenership, off 52 balls, gave the co-hosts the ideal launch pad. Rathnayake was the more aggressive of the two, hitting eight fours and a six for 60 off 28 balls.
Captain Dasun Shanaka picked up the baton from Rathnayake, launching some big hits against a beleaguered Oman attack. With the help of five sixes and two fours, he reached a half-century in just 19 balls, recording Sri Lanka’s fastest T20I fifty.
At the other end, Mendis played the perfect foil for the power hitters in the team, scoring a steady 61 off 45 balls. Sri Lanka hammered 129 runs in the last 10 overs, including 17 runs in the final over to charge past the 200-mark.