On February 12, 2026, at the Pallekele International Stadium, Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, showcased an impressive performance against Oman in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group B match. Coming in at a crucial moment, Shanaka helped his team set a high total, making his innings a remarkable display of skill that added to his achievements in Sri Lankan Cricket.
T20 World Cup 2026: Dasun Shanaka breaks Mahela Jayawardene’s record and matches Rohit Sharma’s historic feat
The standout moment of the match was when Shanaka achieved the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20 World Cup history. He reached 50 runs in just 20 balls, breaking the previous record held by Mahela Jayawardene, who scored a fifty in 21 balls against Kenya in 2007. Shanaka’s innings was marked by aggressive shots targeting Oman’s bowlers, leading him to a quick pace.
By reaching his fifty in 19 balls, Shanaka matched Rohit Sharma’s record for the fastest fifties by a captain in T20 World Cup history. His innings ended at 50 runs off exactly 20 balls, including 4 fours and 5 sixes, when he was caught in the 19th over. This explosive performance helped Sri Lanka reach a total of 225/5 and signaled a return to form for the captain after a series of low scores.
First innings: Sri Lanka posts 225/5 after Kusal Mendis and Shanaka blitz
After Oman won the toss and chose to bowl, Sri Lanka started strong. Although Pathum Nissanka (13) was dismissed early, Kusal Mendis anchored the innings well, scoring 61 runs off 45 balls. Pavan Rathnayake supported him with an aggressive 58 off 26 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.
The final push came from Shanaka, who joined Mendis in the 15th over, putting on 63 runs in just 28 balls for the fourth wicket. Oman’s Sufyan Mehmood and Jiten Ramanandi faced the most pressure, with Mehmood conceding 60 runs in his four overs. Despite Oman’s late effort with a hat-trick in the final over, Sri Lanka already secured a strong total. Their score of 225/5 is the highest so far in T20 World Cup 2026, presenting a tough challenge for Oman in their pursuit of a win against a Test nation.
