Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake and Dasun Shanaka struck half-centuries as 2014 champions Sri Lanka forged momentum in the Twenty20 World Cup with a crushing 105-run victory over Oman in Pallekele on Thursday.
Mendis (61) and Rathnayake (60) put on a 94-run stand for the third wicket as Sri Lanka were asked to bat and skipper Shanaka added the late spark with a 19-ball 50 as his team posted 225-5 in their 20 overs.
“We are really happy with the way we batted today,” Shanaka said in his post-match interview.
“We played the conditions really well. Pavan and Kusal managed the innings superbly, putting me and Kamindu Mendis in a good position to be able to finish things off. Batting I’m really happy, and also with the bowling.”
Shanaka hit five massive sixes and two fours in his knock to surpass his own record – a 20-ball 50 against India in Pune three years ago – but he skied Jiten Ramanandi to deep after reaching the mark.
Kamindu then guided them to a commanding total with 19 off seven balls including two sixes.
Sri Lanka, who were without key spinner Wanindu Hasaranga after he was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury suffered during their victory over Ireland in Group B, struck crucial blows and never allowed Oman to get settled as they managed just 120-9 from their 20 overs.
Wasim Ali offered Oman hope with a breezy 27 in tandem with Mohammad Nadeem, who ended unbeaten on 53, but as wickets continued to tumble at the other end there was no way back and they slumped to their second defeat following defeat by Zimbabwe.
Dushmantha Chameera (2-19) and Maheesh Theekshana (2-11) led the way with Kusal Mendis also taking two wickets, with Hasaranga’s replacement Dushan Hemantha picking up 1-45 for table-toppers Sri Lanka who play Australia at the same venue on Monday.
“It’s so difficult to fill a gap like that of Wanindu because he was a champion bowler,” Shanaka said.
“But Hemantha has been around for some time, he’s come in, played a couple of games when Wanindu wasn’t there. So the confidence is there, but walking straight into the game might be slightly harder. I’m sure he will come good.
“We will carry confidence into the next game, with the batting especially.