Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten hundred reshaped Sri Lanka’s campaign at the T20 World Cup by powering their highest successful chase in the tournament and rewriting multiple record books against Australia. His 100* not only eclipsed the previous highest score in a chase against Australia in the competition, but also ended the long gap since Glenn Phillips’ 104 in 2022 as the last century in the event. The innings now stands among Sri Lanka’s fourth-highest successful chases in T20Is and the second-highest ever completed in Sri Lanka, underlining both individual dominance and team execution.

 

A Chase Built on Control

 

Sri Lanka’s pursuit of 182 was structured, not frantic. Unlike typical high-pressure chases in the T20 World Cup, Nissanka paced the innings by minimizing dot balls and preserving wickets for the final overs. Conditions in Pallekele favored stroke play early, but the surface slowed slightly through the middle phase.

 

Rather than attacking recklessly against Australia’s pace-heavy attack, he absorbed pressure and targeted matchups. His control allowed Sri Lanka to avoid a middle-overs collapse, often the defining risk in high targets against Australia.

 

Breaking Records Against Australia in the T20WC 2026

 

No batter had previously scored a hundred against Australia in a T20WC 2026 chase. The previous highest score in such a scenario was well below three figures, which places Nissanka’s knock in rare territory.

 

This was also only the third century ever scored in a run chase at the tournament. That context matters: scoring big while batting second demands tempo management and clarity under scoreboard pressure. Against Australia, a side historically dominant in ICC events, the magnitude of this innings becomes even greater.

 

Multiple Hundreds Milestone

 

Nissanka became the first Sri Lankan to register multiple hundreds in Men’s T20Is. That consistency elevates him from match-winner to format specialist.

 

In a tournament where batters often peak once, sustaining that level suggests technical adaptability. He rotated strike efficiently, used conventional gaps rather than high-risk aerial routes, and accelerated late, a template rarely seen in fourth-highest or second-highest chases of this magnitude.

 

Powerplay Pressure vs Late Surge

 

Australia’s openers had set the tone with an explosive 104-run stand at a run rate above 12. Yet Sri Lanka absorbed that early shock.

 

The tactical shift came in the middle overs: Sri Lanka reduced boundary flow, forced longer square boundaries into play, and ensured that the required rate never spiked beyond control. Unlike Glenn Phillips’ 104, which came in a different match dynamic, this hundred required chase management, not just acceleration.

 

Where This Hundred Ranks Historically

 

Sri Lanka had not seen a T20 century since Mahela Jayawardene in 2010. That gap adds historical weight. Compared with Glenn Phillips’ 104 in 2022, which came in a bilateral-dominant phase of the game, Nissanka’s innings carried knockout-style tension.

 

Only a handful of batters in tournament history have scored centuries while chasing. When placed alongside those performances, this knock ranks among the most contextually valuable because it came against Australia and resulted in Sri Lanka’s fourth-highest successful chase overall.

 

Pathum Nissanka’s century was not just another milestone at the T20 World Cup; it was a structurally perfect chase innings against Australia. By converting a daunting 182 into Sri Lanka’s second-highest successful chase at home and their fourth-highest overall, he demonstrated composure under pressure and tactical awareness across phases.

 

The innings signal that Sri Lanka possesses a dependable anchor capable of finishing games, not merely setting platforms. If this template holds, they become a far more dangerous side deep into the T20, especially in conditions where controlled chases outweigh reckless power-hitting.

 

Key Takeaway

 

Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten hundred redefined Sri Lanka’s chase blueprint at the T20 World Cup and proved decisive against Australia under pressure.

 

FAQs

 

What was the previous highest score in a T20 World Cup chase against Australia?

Before this century, no batter had scored a hundred against Australia in a World Cup chase.

 

How many Sri Lankan players have scored multiple hundreds in Men’s T20Is?

Pathum Nissanka is the first Sri Lankan to achieve multiple hundreds in the format.

 

Which innings was the last T20WC century before this one?

Glenn Phillips’ 104 in the 2022 edition was the most recent before this knock.

 

Is this Sri Lanka’s highest chase at a T20 World Cup?

Yes, it stands as their highest successful chase in the tournament.