In the run-chase, Perera fell early, but Nissanka (100* in 52 balls, with 10 fours and five sixes), Kusal Mendis (51 in 38 balls, with six fours and a six), and Pavan Rathnayake (28* in 15 balls, with six fours) took Sri Lanka to the target with eight wickets and two overs left.
Nissanka's unbeaten century was the second hundred by a Sri Lankan batter in the T20 World Cups. The first ton was hit by former captain Mahela Jayawardene (100) against Zimbabwe in the 2010 edition.
After a poor group stage exit last year, Sri Lanka marched into the Super Eights undefeated, downing the mighty Australians courtesy a masterclass century from Pathum Nissanka and fine bowling spells from Dushan Hemantha and Dushmantha Chameera.
Nissanka cracked his second T20I century, helping the Lankan Lions chase 182 runs and making it three wins in three matches to seal their clash for the next round.
Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka pulled off a majestic hundred to help his side defeat Australia and qualify for the Super 8 stage in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Monday in Pallekele.
Heading into the tournament, Sri Lanka have been largely sub-par at home and have lacked the big tournament/match pedigree which made them such a fearsome unit during the golden days of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan. However, with a considerabl
Sri Lanka on Wednesday unveiled a 17-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, set to begin on January 22 at the RPICS Stadium in Colombo.
Uncapped Indian talent stole the spotlight at the IPL 2026 Player Auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, with Delhi Capitals securing multiple promising domestic players, headlined by the signing of Auqib Nabi Dar.
Besides the international stars getting attention, the night continued to be a big payday for Indian uncapped players as MP batter Akshat Raghuvanshi went to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs 2.2 crores and left-arm pacer from MP, Mangesh Yadav went to RCB for Rs 5.2 crores.
Pathum Nissanka surpassed Kusal Perera to become Sri Lanka's top T20I run-scorer, starring in a match-winning innings that propelled Sri Lanka to a comfortable win over Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, keeping their tri-series hopes alive.
In what was supposed to be a dead-rubber clash, fans got their money's worth during a match which featured not only two teams scoring 200-plus runs, a century from Lankan Lions' all-format star Pathum Nissanka, but also a Super Over. However, after scores were level on 202, SL could score ju