Shanaka, Rathnayake sizzle as Sri Lanka beats Oman by 105 runs at T20 World Cup

Captain Dasun Shanaka broke his own record for the fastest Twenty20 half-century for Sri Lanka as it crushed Oman by 105 runs at the T20 World Cup on Thursday.

Shanaka’s 19-ball 50, along with Kusal Mendis’ 61 and Pavan Rathnayake’s 60, powered Sri Lanka to a tournament-best 225-5.

Oman laboured to 120-9 in reply, with the wickets shared by five bowlers. Off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana led the way with 2-11 from four overs.

Sri Lanka is now two wins from two games, but is yet to face Group B rivals Australia and Zimbabwe.

Oman’s 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem became the oldest player to score a half-century in the history of the T20 World Cup, finishing unbeaten on 53 from 56 balls. Nadeem was one of only two Oman batters to reach double figures, with Wasim Ali scoring 27.

Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishra inside the PowerPlay, but Rathnayake and Mendis counter-attacked with a brisk 94-run third-wicket stand off 52 balls.

Shanaka smashed five sixes to surpass his previous Sri Lanka record of a 20-ball half-century against India in 2023, before holing out at long-off off the very next delivery.

Published on Feb 12, 2026