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In a blistering display of power-hitting at the Pallekele International Stadium on February 12, 2026, Sri Lanka’s captain Dasun Shanaka orchestrated a record-breaking assault against Oman in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group B fixture. Coming in during the final stages of the innings, Shanaka turned the match into a personal highlight reel, ensuring the co-hosts posted a massive total. His performance was more than just a quickfire knock; it was a statistical masterpiece that saw him rewrite the record books of Sri Lankan cricket and join elite company in the international arena.
T20 World Cup 2026: Dasun Shanaka breaks Mahela Jayawardene’s record and matches Rohit Sharma’s historic feat
The headline moment of the afternoon arrived when Shanaka struck the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20 World Cup history. Shanaka reached the 50-run milestone in just 20 balls, effectively erasing the long-standing record held by the legendary Mahela Jayawardene, who scored a 21-ball fifty against Kenya in 2007. The captain’s blitz was characterized by brutal efficiency, as he targeted Oman’s death bowlers with a series of lofted drives and powerful sweeps.
By reaching his fifty in 19 deliveries, Shanaka also equaled Rohit Sharma‘s mark for fastest fifties by a captain in T20 World Cup history. Shanaka’s innings was eventually halted at 50 off exactly 20 balls (including 4 fours and 5 sixes) when he was caught at long-off in the 19th over. This explosive knock not only propelled Sri Lanka toward a total of 225/5 but also signaled a return to form for the skipper, who had faced criticism for a string of low scores leading into the tournament.
First innings: Sri Lanka posts 225/5 after Kusal Mendis and Shanaka blitz
The Sri Lankan innings began with high intent after Oman won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit early moisture. However, the move backfired as the Lankan top order laid a solid foundation. While Pathum Nissanka (13) fell early, Kusal Mendis played the role of the anchor to perfection, scoring a composed 61 off 45 balls. He was well-supported by Pavan Rathnayake, who played a fearless cameo of 58 off 26 balls, smashing eight boundaries and a six to keep the run rate hovering around 10 per over.
The final flourish, however, belonged entirely to Shanaka. Joining Mendis in the 15th over, the captain added 63 runs in just 28 balls for the fourth wicket. Oman’s Sufyan Mehmood and Jiten Ramanandi bore the brunt of the assault, with Mehmood conceding 60 runs in his four overs. Despite a late team hat-trick from Oman in the final over that saw Mendis run out and two others fall, the damage was already done. Sri Lanka’s total of 225/5 is the highest of the T20 World Cup 2026 so far, leaving Oman with a near-impossible task as they chase their first-ever win against a Test-playing nation.
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