Pallekele witnessed history as Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten 100 off 52 balls, laced with 10 fours and 5 sixes, guided Sri Lanka to an 8-wicket demolition of Australia in T20 World Cup 2026. This landmark innings made him the pioneer to register a T20 World Cup century against the Aussies, surpassing Umar Akmal’s 94 from 2014.
Nissanka surged to the top of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup batting charts, tying Mahela Jayawardene’s 100 versus Zimbabwe in 2010. The veteran had also fallen agonizingly short with 98* against West Indies in the same year, and Dilshan managed 96* in 2009 against them too.
His 52-ball ton echoed his rapid-fire effort against India in 2025. Among Sri Lankan T20I centurions by balls faced, only Kusal Perera’s 44-ball stunner against New Zealand stands ahead.
Marsh (54) and Head (56) forged a 100-plus partnership to propel Australia to 181/6. Sri Lanka responded emphatically, romping home in 18 overs behind Nissanka’s brilliance and Mendis’s 51.
Sri Lanka now boasts three World Cup scalps over Australia— the 1996 ODI final classic, a 2009 T20 thriller, and this latest stunner. Nissanka’s record-shattering performance redefines Sri Lankan aggression on the global stage.