Earlier, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh returned to lead his side after an injury as Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first.  Australia made three changes to the playing XI, with Marsh, Cooper Connolly, and Xavier Bartlett coming in. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis made a return in place of Kamil Mishara.

Marsh and Travis Head gave Australia a stunning start as the duo scored 104 in just 8.2 overs but the entire middle and lower order collapsed once Sri Lanka brought on their tweakers. The Kangaroos were eventually bundled out for 181 in 20 overs before Nissanka made it a one-way traffic to seal Sri Lanka’s Super 8 spot.

AUS vs SL, T20 World Cup 2026 Squads

Australia: Josh Inglis (wk), Travis Head (c), Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Steven Smith.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Pramod Madushan, Janith Liyanage.

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Steve Smith replaces injured Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad

Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign was reshaped again after Steven Smith was announced as a replacement for injured fast bowler Josh Hazlewood ahead of the crucial league phase clash against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Monday. The ICC Event Technical Committee approved the change after Hazlewood was ruled out with a calf injury that had kept him sidelined since February. Despite initial optimism that he might recover in time for the latter stages, medical advice confirmed he would not be fit to contribute. (READ MORE)