February 12, 2026 – The Sri Lanka vs Oman Pallekele International Cricket Stadium was painted in Lion flags as Sri Lanka produced a masterclass in modern T20 cricket. Driven by three explosive half-centuries, including a record-breaking effort from captain Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka posted a daunting 225/5—the highest total of the tournament so far. Oman’s chase never found its feet, eventually wilting for 120/9.
Sri Lanka vs Oman Match Overview: A Statement of Intent
Oman’s decision to bowl first proved costly as they ran into a Sri Lankan batting unit determined to improve their Net Run Rate. Despite early jitters that saw openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara fall cheaply, the duo of Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake took control. Their 94-run stand laid the platform for captain Dasun Shanaka, who played an innings for the history books, smashing a 19-ball fifty to leave Oman in a state of shock.
In the second half, the Lankan bowling attack, even in the absence of the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, was relentless. Dushmantha Chameera struck twice with the new ball, and Maheesh Theekshana strangled the middle order with figures of 2/11. Only veteran Mohammad Nadeem showed resistance, becoming the oldest player to score a T20 World Cup fifty, but his lone battle was not enough to save Oman from a crushing defeat.
Match Scorecard: Detailed Statistics
1st Innings: Sri Lanka Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Pathum Nissanka | lbw b Sufyan Mehmood | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Kamil Mishara | b Jay Odedra | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 114.29 |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | Run out (Jiten Ramanandi) | 61 | 45 | 7 | 0 | 135.56 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | b Jiten Ramanandi | 60 | 28 | 8 | 1 | 214.29 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | c Nadeem Khan b Jiten Ramanandi | 50 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 250.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | not out | 19 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 271.43 |
| Dunith Wellalage | not out | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 2, nb 2) | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (20 Overs) | 225/5 | RR: 11.25 |
Oman Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Faisal Shah | 4.0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 7.00 |
| Jay Odedra | 1.0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Wasim Ali | 3.0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 12.67 |
| Sufyan Mehmood | 4.0 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 15.00 |
| Nadeem Khan | 4.0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Jiten Ramanandi | 4.0 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 |
2nd Innings: Oman Batting (Target: 226)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Aamir Kaleem | lbw b Maheesh Theekshana | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Jatinder Singh (c) | b Dushmantha Chameera | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Hammad Mirza | c Kamil Mishara b D. Chameera | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Mohammad Nadeem | not out | 53 | 56 | 3 | 1 | 94.64 |
| Wasim Ali | c Kusal Mendis b M. Theekshana | 27 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 135.00 |
| Vinayak Shukla (wk) | Run out (Kamil Mishara) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Jiten Ramanandi | st Kusal Mendis b D. Hemantha | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Nadeem Khan | c D. Chameera b Kamindu Mendis | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Sufyan Mehmood | Run out (Kamindu Mendis) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Faisal Shah | c Pathum Nissanka b D. Wellalage | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 |
| Jay Odedra | not out | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 13, nb 1) | 15 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (20 Overs) | 120/9 | RR: 6.00 |
Sri Lanka Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 2.0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4.0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 2.75 |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 3.0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3.67 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4.0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 4.25 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 1.0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 4.0 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 11.25 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 2.0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 5.00 |
Post-Match Analysis: Key Takeaways
1. Shanaka’s Historic Blitz
Entering the game under immense pressure due to a lean run of form, Dasun Shanaka answered his critics with the fastest T20I half-century ever by a Sri Lankan. His 19-ball fifty featured 5 massive sixes, taking 26 runs off a single over from Sufyan Mehmood. This cameo not only demoralized Oman but also signaled the return of Lanka’s premier finisher.
2. The Rathnayake Revelation
Pavan Rathnayake proved that his inclusion in the squad was a tactical masterstroke. His 60 off 28 balls was a clinic in taking on spin bowling. His ability to rotate strike and find boundaries at will in the middle overs took the pressure off Kusal Mendis, allowing the latter to bat deep into the innings.
3. The Spin Masterclass
Even without Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s spin department looked elite. Maheesh Theekshana was virtually unplayable, conceding only 11 runs in his 4 overs. His economy of 2.75 created the “dot-ball pressure” that led to several Oman wickets at the other end.
4. A Gritty Milestone for Oman
While the team performance was underwhelming, 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem provided a heartwarming highlight. By scoring an unbeaten 53, he became the oldest player in history to score a half-century in the ICC T20 World Cup, surpassing the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya.
Player of the Match: Pavan Rathnayake
For his career-best 60 (28), which provided the momentum Sri Lanka needed to post a tournament-record total.