Sri Lanka vs Australia Highlights, T20 World Cup: AUS's Super 8 hopes dashed as SL clinch eight-wicket win

So far, five teams — India, England, West Indies, South Africa and Sri Lanka have qualified for the Super Eight stage.

Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lanka skipper, on the other hand, was impressed with his team's performance.

“One of the best performances in recent past. Happy about the way first innings went. We were still very positive after losing Pathirana. Had the confidence. Knew about the wicket as well. Each and everyone showed high body language. Everybody wanted to contribute somehow,” he said.

Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh said that he thought that Australia's total of 181 was compeitive. Australia lost to Sri Lanka by eight wickets in their third T20 World Cup group stage match.

“I thought it was a competitive total. We probably left ourselves a few short after the start we had. Well played to SL, they outplayed us tonight. We know that at our best we can make big scores. We just lost our way towards the back end. SL bowled really well towards the back end. We knew we were a few short,” he said.

Sri Lanka remain in first place in Group B of the 2026 T20 World Cup with six points from three matches. Sri Lanka have sealed qualification for the Super Eight stage, whereas Australia's hopes are currently slim. Australia stay in third place, but with just two points from three matches

GAME OVER! Australia have suffered an eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in an exciting T20 World Cup group stage match in Kandy. This is Australia's second loss in three matches as they remain on two points. This loss also means that Australia will be eliminated if Zimbabwe beat Ireland in the other Group B match tomorrow.

Sri Lanka are taking this match away from Australia and are cruising towards victory in Kandy. 18 runs come from Nathan Ellis' over. Sri Lanka need 13 runs to win from 18 balls.

SL 169/2 (17 overs; Target 182)

Sri Lanka are cruising away towards victory against Australia in Kandy. The hosts have not showed any signs of slowing down despite the wicket of Kusal Mendis. A total of 20 runs came from Marcus Stoinis' fourth and final over.

SL 141/2 (15 overs; Target 182)

Eight runs come off Adam Zampa's third over. Despite the wicket of Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka still seem to be cruising, but Australia need quick wickets. Sri Lanka need 61 runs to win from 36 balls.

SL 121/2 (14 overs; Target 182)

Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka get to their respective fifties as they take Sri Lanka closer to the target. The partnership between the two is now 96 runs from 64 balls. Sri Lanka need 78 runs to win from 48 balls.

SL 104/1 (12 overs; Target 182)

Nathan Ellis bowls the 11th over, but midway through the over, Pathm Nissanka is down. He is receiving treatment from the physios at the moment. He is back up on his feet a few moments later.

There was an appeal for LBW against Kusal Mendis in Cooper Connolly's latest over, but he is given not out. The ball seems to have slid down the leg side on this occasion. Adam Zampa continues from the other end in the next over and goes for eight runs.

SL 93/1 (10 overs; Target 182)

Cooper Connolly continues after the powerplay. It was a productive powerplay for Sri Lanka, with 61 runs coming and losing just one wicket. Cooper had gone for 13 runs in his first over, but concedes just five runs in his second over. The partnership between Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka is 58 runs from 34 balls.

SL 66/1 (7 overs; Target 182)

Cooper Connolly is into the attack now. In the third ball of Connolly's first over, Pathum Nissanka punishes him for a six. He perfects the reverse sweep over short third man fence. 13 runs from the over.

SL 48/1 (5 overs; Target 182)

OUT! Australia are off to an excellent start in Sri Lanka's run chase, as Marcus Stoinis dismisses Kusal Perera. Perera plays an upper cut, but mistimes it and is caught by Nathan Ellis at deep backward point.

SL 12/1 (2 overs ; Target 182)

Right. Time for Sri Lanka's run chase. Xavier Bartlett is into the attack for Australia, and Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka are opening for Sri Lanka. Eight runs off the first over, including a six from Nissanka.

SL 8/0 (1 over; Target 182)

The Sri Lankan bowlers have done a splendid job to dismiss Australia for 181. Australia were cruising at 104/0 at one stage, but Dushmantha Chameera and Dushan Hemantha shared five wickets between them to see off the Aussies. Australia might feel they are 20-30 runs short.

Sri Lanka need 182 runs to win.

Dushmantha Chameera gets his second wicket as he removes Marcus Stoinis. Maheesh Theekshana makes no mistake with the catch at short third. Chameera had gone for 16 runs in his first over, but now he has two wickets.

OUT! Australia are losing wickets in a flurry as Coooper Connolly departs. Cionnolly looks to go for the slog-sweep, but gets a top edge and is caught by Kudsal Perera at short third man .

AUS 1777/7 (19 overs)

OUT! Australia are falling like a pack of cards in Sri Lanka. Josh Inglis is the latest to depart as he is caught by Wellalage who comes running in from backward point. Dushmantha Chameera with the wicket.

AUS 175/6 (18 overs)

OUT! Glenn Maxwell's stay in the middle comes to an end, as Pathum Nissanka takes a spectacular catch. Maxwell goes for the reverse sweep, but Nissanka takes a leap of faith and flies to his left to take a splendid catch at backward point. Dushan Hemantha claims his third wicket.

AUS 168/5 (17 overs)

Kamindu Mendis completes his second over, and it's an expensive over with 15 runs coming off it. Glenn Maxwell joins the party, slamming a six and hitting a four in the over.

Maxwell cleared long-on for the maximum, while lofting wide of long-off for the four a few balls later. Australia will be looking to get to 200.

AUS 151/4 (15 overs)

OUT! Kamindu Mendis strikes for Sri Lanka as Tim David is dismissed. David looks to play the slog, but he eventually finds Dushan Hemantha at long-off.

AUS 131/4 (13 overs)

Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh has made a strong return from injury, scoring a half-century. However, he is now dismissed by Dushan Hemantha. Marsh was struck LBW after being struck on the back pad. The ball was crashing onto the middle-stump.

AUS 117/3 (11 overs)

Another one bites the dust as Cameron Green departs. Green is stumped by Kusal Mendis off Dunith Wellalage's delivery.

OUT! Sri Lanka get rid of the dangerman as Travis Head departs for 56. Head is caught by Kamindu Mendis at long-off courtesy Dushan Hemantha's delivery.

AUS 105/1 (9 overs)

Travis Head scores a blistering half-century that comes from 27 balls. He has slammed seven fours and two sixes during his knock so far. This is his first half-century of this T20 World Cup

Matheesha Pathirana gets mercilessly punished by the duo of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. Head plays a pull shot over square leg, and later collects another boundary a few balls later. 20 runs come from Theekshana's third over.

AUS 70/0 (6 overs)

Australia reach the 50-run mark against Sri Lanka, who are looking to get a breakthrough. 12 runs come from Dasun Shanaka's over, with Travis Head doing what he does best-Hitting boundaries and sixes.

AUS 50/0 (5 overs)

So Sri Lanka have now used three bowlers in as many overs. Maheesh Theekshana bowled the second over of the match, and he went for nine runs.

Matheesha Pathirana is then introduced in the third over. Pathirana seems to have sustained an injury, and he is being looked at by the team physios. Dasun Shanaka continues in Pathirana's absence, who is taken off the field.

AUS 32/0 ( 3 overs)

A good start from Australia as both Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head collect a boundary each. It's a nightmarish start for Dushmantha Chameera as 16 runs come off the over.

AUS 16/0 (1 over)

Time for LIVE action. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head make their way out to open Australia's innings. Dushmantha Chameera begins Sri Lanka's bowling attack.

This is a do-or-die match for Australia, who only have two points from two games. They defeated Ireland but lost to Zimbabwe, and should they lose tonight also, Australia could be staring at an early exit. Australia are in third place in the Group B standings.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka(Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

Australia: Mitchell Marsh(Captain), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa

The toss news from Pallekele is that Sri Lanka have won the toss and will field first. Regular skipper Mitchell Marsh returns for Australia after missing the first two games due to injury.

"All okay, ready to go tonight. It's a big game, every game comes with great responsibility," Marsh says at the toss.

In another match of the 2026 T20 World Cup, England have beaten Italy by 24 runs in a Group C match in Kolkata. With that victory, England have qualified for the Super Eight stage.

—Beat Ireland by 67 runs

—Lost to Zimbabwe by 23 runs

—Beat Ireland by 20 runs

—Beat Oman by 105 runs

Sri Lanka currently lead Group B of the 2026 T20 World Cup with four points from two matches, whereas Australia are in third place with two points from as many matches. Australia defeated Ireland in their first match, but suffered a shock loss to Zimbabwe in the second match.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Group B match of the 2026 T20 World Cup between Sri Lanka and Australia, which will take place in Pallekele.