Nissanka abuses Aussies, sends Sri Lanka through

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP):

Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten 100 powered Sri Lanka into the T20 World Cup Super 8s and left former champions Australia’s prospects hanging by a thread yesterday.

Sri Lanka thrashed Australia by eight wickets with two overs to spare. Pavan Rathnayake hit the winning runs straight after Nissanka reached his century off 52 balls and was greeted by massive cheers at the Pallekele International Stadium. The packed crowd roared again one delivery later when Rathanayake finished the match with a boundary to deep square.

The third win from as many matches ensured Sri Lanka advanced to the second round, two years after failing to do so for the first time at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies.

Australia could be knocked out in the group stage for the first time since 2009 if unbeaten Zimbabwe beat Ireland today.

Meanwhile, England also reached the Super 8s after surviving a scare from Italy in Kolkata. England came back from 105-5 to post 202-7. Italy were cut down for 178.

In New Delhi, Afghanistan shrugged off back-to-back defeats to finally register a win after beating the United Arab Emirates by five wickets. That secured South Africa a spot in the Super 8s.

Despite the short boundaries, Australia were all out for 181 and Sri Lanka chased it down in style at 184-2.

Kusal Mendis joined Nissanka at 8-1 and was the main aggressor in their 97-run stand off 66 balls. Mendis hit his third half-century of the tournament, then was out for 51 off 38 in the 13th over.

Nissanka then finished the match with Rathnayake, scoring 51 of the last 79 runs. He achieved his second T20 century and the second for Sri Lanka in men’s T20 World Cup history after bashing five sixes and 10 boundaries. Rathnayake was 28 not out.

Impressive start

The Australians started the match impressively. Captain Mitch Marsh, making his first tournament appearance after a groin injury, and Travis Head opened with 104 runs off 51 deliveries. Head was 56 off 29 with three sixes and seven boundaries when he was caught at long off.

Cameron Green was stumped by Kusal Mendis on three and Marsh went in the next over, lbw to Dushan Hemantha, who took 3-37.

Fast-bowler Matheesha Pathirana injured his calf after only four deliveries and hobbled off with help. Sri Lanka Cricket said he will undergo a scan today.

Australia were 151-4 after 15 overs but lost six wickets for 30 runs in the last five, fast-bowler Dushmantha Chameera claiming 3-36.

“One of the best performances in the recent past,” Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said. “We were still positive after losing Pathirana. We had that confidence and knew about the wicket. Everyone wanted to contribute somehow: Chameera, Theekshana, Hemantha. Pathirana is a big miss.”