In the most recent encounter on 16 February 2026, Sri Lanka defeated Australia by 8 wickets in a Group B match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This victory secured Sri Lanka’s place in the Super 8s, while leaving Australia on the brink of elimination.
Recent Match Summary (16 Feb 2026)
- Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.
- Australia Innings: 181 all out in 20 overs. Openers Travis Head (56) and Mitchell Marsh (54) shared a 104-run stand, but the team collapsed, losing 10 wickets for just 77 runs.
- Sri Lanka Innings: 184/2 in 18 overs. Pathum Nissanka scored a match-winning 100 off 52 balls*, supported by Kusal Mendis (51).
- Key Performers: Sri Lanka’s Dushan Hemantha took 3/37, while Marcus Stoinis was Australia’s best bowler with 2/46.
Australia
181
(20)
Ended
Mon, Feb 16
Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets (12 balls left)
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
T20 · 30 of 55
184/2
(18)
Sri Lanka
Player of the match
Pathum Nissanka (SL) · 100* off (52)
Head-to-Head & Series Context (2025–2026)
| Format | Recent Series / Matches | Result |
|---|---|---|
| T20I | 2026 T20 World Cup (Feb 16, 2026) | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
| ODI | 2-Match Series in Sri Lanka (Feb 2025) | Sri Lanka won series 2–0 |
| Test | 2-Match Series in Sri Lanka (Jan–Feb 2025) | Australia won series 2–0 |
Current Standings & Rankings
- T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka leads Group B with 6 points and has qualified for the Super 8s. Australia sits in third place with 2 points and must beat Oman while hoping for other results to go their way.
- ICC Rankings: As of early 2026, Australia is ranked 3rd in Tests and 2nd in T20Is, while Sri Lanka has recently moved up to 5th in the ODI rankings following their series win over Australia.
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