Thursday 12 / February / 2026
PALLEKELE: The dark grey clouds that hung low over the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday seemed an ominous sign for Oman.
Under brooding skies in Kandy, the gulf between a seasoned Sri Lankan unit and an ambitious Omani side became increasingly evident as the hosts unleashed a relentless batting display to post 225/5 - their second-highest T20 World Cup total and the highest of the tournament so far.
With a formidable total to chase, Oman put up a tame show as they were restricted to 120/9 for a crushing 105-run defeat.
Opting to bowl first in overcast conditions, Oman captain Jatinder Singh hoped his seamers would extract early movement. For a fleeting moment, that decision showed promise. Off-spinner Jay Odedra, drafted in for Shakeel Ahmad, delivered a peach in the second over to castle Kamil Mishara and provide early encouragement.
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis rebuilt with composure before accelerating. While Shah Faisal impressed with a tight opening spell, conceding just 11 runs in his first three overs, runs flowed at the other end. Wasim Ali’s first over cost 13, and Sufyan Mehmood’s opening over went for 16, although he did trap Nissanka leg-before after a successful review. At the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka were well positioned at 58/2.
The tempo rose sharply once Pavan Rathnayake joined Kusal Mendis. The pair launched a calculated assault, mixing placement with clean striking. Nadeem Khan briefly applied the brakes with a five-run opening over, but the pressure soon shifted back to Oman. The 10th over from Wasim yielded 17 runs as Sri Lanka crossed the 100-run mark in commanding fashion.
Rathnayake was particularly devastating. The right-hander raced to his maiden T20I half-century off just 24 balls, eventually scoring 60 off 28 deliveries, studded with eight boundaries and a six as Sufyan Mehmood conceded 19 in the 13th over. Kusal Mendis matched him stroke for stroke, compiling a fluent 61 off 45 balls with seven fours anchoring the innings. The 94-run third-wicket partnership between Rathnayake and Kusal set the platform for the rest to dazzle in the death overs.
Jiten Ramanandi provided a brief respite, dismissing Rathnayake and conceding just six runs in the 14th over. Nadeem followed with a tidy over of his own, raising faint hopes of restricting Sri Lanka below the 200 mark.
Those hopes evaporated the moment Dasun Shanaka found his range.
The Sri Lankan captain unleashed a breathtaking counterattack in the death overs. He hammered Nadeem Khan for 20 in the 17th over, smashing two sixes and a four, and then plundered Sufyan Mehmood for 19 in the next.
Mehmood’s figures of 4/60 were the most conceded by an Omani bowler in a T20 World Cup.
Ramanandi too was dispatched to the ropes as Shanaka cleared the boundary with disdain. In a sensational display of clean hitting, Shanaka brought up a 19-ball half-century — the fastest ever by a Sri Lankan in T20 Internationals — finishing with five sixes and two fours in a whirlwind knock.
Although Ramanandi eventually accounted for Shanaka and a run-out sent Kusal Mendis back in the penultimate over, Sri Lanka were relentless. Kamindu Mendis and Dunith Wellalage added 24 runs late in the innings as the hosts amassed 65 runs in the final four overs to finish on a daunting 225/5.
Ramanandi was Oman’s most successful bowler with 2/41, but the figures told only part of a bruising evening for the visitors.
Chasing 226, Oman needed an extraordinary start. Instead, their innings unravelled almost immediately.
Dushmantha Chameera struck in the opening over with a 140 kmph delivery that nipped just enough to clip Jatinder Singh’s off stump. Oman were 12/1. Maheesh Theekshana compounded the damage by removing Aamir Kaleem with the first ball of the next over, leaving Oman reeling.
Nadeem Khan and Hammad Mirza attempted to steady the innings, but Chameera returned to have Mirza caught off a top edge. At 36/3 after six overs, the required rate had already ballooned beyond 15 per over and was climbing rapidly.
With the asking rate crossing 16 an over, Wasim Ali provided a brief spark of resistance. In the 11th over, he launched two successive sixes into the stands, offering Oman a rare moment of cheer amid the mounting pressure. The clean strikes briefly lifted spirits in the dugout, but the equation remained daunting and Sri Lanka’s bowlers quickly reasserted control.
The 42-run fourth wicket stand between Ali and Mohammad Nadeem turned out to be the highest for Oman in the game as well as in the T20 World Cup. Once Ali was dismissed by Theekshana at 78/4, a procession began as Vinayak Shukla, the top scorer in the previous game, was run out and Ramanandi was stumped behind off Dushan Hemantha, the leggie who replaced Wanindu Hasaranga. The latter was ruled out of the tournament, giving the co-hosts a big blow.
Mehmood became the second run-out victim as Oman crawled to 109/9 in 16 overs. Veteran Mohammad Nadeem, yet again, played a gritty knock to stay unbeaten on 53, scoring his third T20I half-century. His innings came off 56 deliveries and included three boundaries and a six.
Oman fell well short, suffering their second successive defeat of the campaign, a result that effectively ends their hopes of progressing to the second round.
Oman now turn their focus to their upcoming clash against Ireland on Saturday before concluding their group stage campaign against Australia at this venue on February 20. While qualification may be out of reach, Jatinder Singh’s side will look to salvage pride and positives as they continue their search for a breakthrough victory on the global stage.
Brief scores: SrI Lanka 225/5 (Kusal Mendis 61, Pavan Rathnayake 60, Dasun Shanaka 50; Jiten Ramanandi 2/41) beat Oman 120/9 (Mohammad Nadeem 53*, Wasim Ali 27; Dushmantha Chameera 2/19, Maheesh Theekshana 2/11).
