Sri Lanka, Feb. 16 -- Pathum Nissanka etched his name into the record books on Monday night, smashing the first century of the 2026 T20 World Cup to lead Sri Lanka to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Australia. The win at the Pallekele International Stadium not only secured Sri Lanka's spot in the Super 8s but also pushed the 2021 champions, Australia, to the brink of a shock possible early exit following their previous defeat to Zimbabwe.

Chasing a competitive target of 182, Sri Lanka's pursuit was anchored by a masterclass from Nissanka. After losing Kusal Perera early to Marcus Stoinis, Nissanka found a steady partner in Kusal Mendis. Together, the pair dismantled the Australian bowling attack with a clinical 97-run partnership. ...