Colombo, Feb 12 (NationPress) Sri Lanka showcased a remarkable batting display, amassing 225 runs for the loss of 5 wickets against Oman in their Group B match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

After being asked to bat first, the hosts started off energetically with Kamil Mishara hitting two boundaries off Shah Faisal. However, Jay Odedra provided Oman with an early breakthrough by dismissing Mishara for just eight runs with a delivery that skidded through.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis then stabilized the innings, but Oman struck again in the sixth over when Sufyan Mehmood trapped Nissanka lbw for 13 after a successful review, leaving Sri Lanka at 58/2 at the end of the powerplay.

The innings gained momentum through a powerful partnership between Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake. Rathnayake was particularly aggressive against spin, confidently using his feet and finding gaps. He punished Wasim Ali in a 17-run 10th over, which included two no-balls and a boundary from a free hit, allowing Sri Lanka to exceed 100 runs in the 11th over.

Rathnayake celebrated his first T20I fifty in style, driving Sufyan Mehmood over the umpire’s head for four. His half-century came off just 24 balls, making it the second-fastest by a Sri Lankan in T20 World Cups. He was eventually dismissed for a dazzling 60 off 28 balls by Jiten Ramanandi while attempting a sweep, but not before changing the game’s momentum in favor of Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis played the anchor role effectively, mixing creative shots with smart placement. He reached his 19th T20I fifty in the 15th over, scoring a fluent 61 off 45 balls, ensuring a solid foundation as the match approached its conclusion.

What followed was a fierce attack from captain Dasun Shanaka. Coming in after Rathnayake’s dismissal, Shanaka wasted no time and targeted both pace and spin with powerful strikes, achieving a stunning 19-ball fifty, the fastest by a Sri Lankan in T20Is. He hit five sixes and two fours, amassing 50 runs off just 20 balls, delivering the late surge Sri Lanka needed.

Although Shanaka was caught at long-off and Kusal Mendis was run out in the 18th over, Kamindu Mendis ensured the momentum didn’t fade. He smashed three massive sixes in the final two overs, including consecutive maximums off Shah Faisal in the last over, resulting in Sri Lanka finishing strongly at 225/5.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 225/5 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 61, Pavan Rathnayake 60, Dasun Shanaka 50; Jiten Ramanandi 2-41) vs Oman.