🏏ICC Men's T20 W C 2026: Group B, M 30: AUS vs SL at Pallekele🏏

🏏ICC Men's T20 W C 2026: Group B, M 30: AUS vs SL at Pallekele🏏

Sri Lanka head into the new week at the T20 World Cup with a tasty proposition ahead of them - they could push Australia to the edge of the cliff. It's a thought that would've been unthinkable even a fortnight ago as they entered the tournament as one of the favourites to go all the way, and even enjoy another historic evening in Ahmedabad.

But as it stands, that's a distant dream thanks to a spirited Zimbabwe who cracked open Group B with a win over the 2021 champions.

Australia have grappled with injuries and key absences, but falling short with the bat against Zimbabwe should still have set off alarm bells for an otherwise champion team. But that's the reality - they currently sit third in the points table.

A loss won't automatically knock them out but push them towards that reality.

But if they overcome the co-hosts, the Group B table will undergo a dramatic reshuffle. There's even a situation where all three contenders - Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Australia, could end up with six points each and will have their NRR dictate their fate.

That however, is a headache for the future. For now, Australia need two points to cling on.

As for Sri Lanka, there are no knots to their equation. A win will take them to six points and guarantee them a Super 8s spot.

When: Australia vs Sri Lanka, 30th Match, Group B, February 16, 7 PM IST

Where: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium

What to expect: Only one game at this venue has seen Sri Lanka smash 225/5 against Oman. But that was a 11 am fixture, leaving a bit of unknown for Monday's evening game

Team News:

Australia

Australia might get a boost in the form of Mitchell Marsh's return. Marcus Stoinis said that the all-rounder was to have a training session on the eve of the game and that he's confident of returning. If Marsh comes through well, Glenn Maxwell might have to sit out. Stoinis also confirmed that his hand was fine after he took a knock in the last game.

Probable XI: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Tim David, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Matt Kuhnemann

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka come into this fixture on the back of a big win but they might still consider changes. Opener Kamil Mishara has 14 and 8 in the two games so far, and could make way for Kusal Perera.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara/Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

Did you know:

- Since 2025, Travis Head averages 12.83 and strikes at 125.20 in T20Is

- Adam Zampa has 21 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 5.69

- Australia have beaten Sri Lanka in 13 of their 15 World Cup encounters (ODI and T20I)

What they said:

"What I really like about this bunch and the entire 24 who I've worked with in the last three months is their ability to learn, willing to get better. There are a lot of positives." - R Sridhar on Sri Lanka players

"The boys are pretty disappointed with the result [against Zimbabwe], but we've got no one to blame but ourselves and obviously Zimbabwe played really well." - Marcus Stoinis

Sri Lanka have been outstanding in the tournament, winning their first two matches comprehensively. In their opening encounter, they beat Ireland by 29 runs, and then dominating Oman in their next, winning the match by a handsome margin of 105 runs.

Australia, on the other hand, have been struggling in the tournament. After their win against Ireland in the first game, it was a horror show against Zimbabwe, as the Kangaroos suffered a shock 23-run loss, failing to chase 170 runs.

The upcoming encounter will be a crucial one for both the teams, as the co-hosts will look to book their Super 8 spot wit h a win, while the 2021 T20 World champions will fight for survival.

Sri Lanka vs Australia will be the second match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the venue. Before this, the hosts played Oman at the venue, and it was a high-scoring encounter with Dasun Shanaka-led side scoring 225 in their 20 overs. With that in mind, the pitch is likely to remain the same for the upcoming encounter.

Probable Best Batter: Kusal Mendis

Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis will be the batter to watch out for in this contest. The right-hander has been in brilliant form, scoring two consecutive half-centuries. His team will need another similar performance against Australia.

Probable Best Bowler: Maheesh Theekshana

The experienced spinner from Sri Lanka will be the bowler to watch out for in this contest. Playing at the home conditions, Theekshana has been impressive in the first two encounters, taking five wickets.

Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) has scored 2.474 career T20I runs and is 26 away from becoming the second player to reach 2,500 runs in the men’s format for Sri Lanka (also Kusal Mendis); though, Nissanka has scored 26+ runs in only one of his last nine innings.

Adam Zampa (Australia) has taken 21 wickets against Sri Lanka in T20Is, his most against any opponent, at an average of just 13, while his 5.68 bowling economy against them is also his best against any team (min. 3 games).

Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka) has scored 40 runs from singles across his two innings at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the most of any player from either Sri Lanka or Australia; he had scored just 39 runs from singles across his five previous T20I innings overall.