Pallekele (Sri Lanka), Feb. 12 -- Pavan Rathnayake lit up the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium with a breathtaking maiden T20I half-century as Sri Lanka crushed Oman by 105 runs in the 16th Match, Group B of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 here on Thursday.
Rathnayake's explosive 60 off just 28 balls, studded with eight fours and a six, turned the contest decisively in Sri Lanka's favour after early wickets. Arriving at 42 for 2, he launched a stunning counter-attack, racing to his fifty with a thumping drive over the umpire's head off Sufyan Mehmood - his landmark also becoming the second fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20 World Cups.
He was severe on anything loose, flicking, cutting and lofting with authority. Three su...