Blistering half-centuries from Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis and skipper Dasun Shanaka powered Sri Lanka to a commanding 105-run victory over Oman in their T20 World Cup Group B clash on Thursday.

After being put in to bat, Sri Lanka piled up a formidable 225 for 5, their second-highest total in T20 World Cup history and the highest score of the 2026 edition so far.

Rathnayake set the tone with a breathtaking 60 off just 28 balls, smashing eight fours and a six to register his maiden World Cup fifty. Making amends for his modest 5 against Ireland in the opener, the 23-year-old reached his half-century in just 24 deliveries, surpassing his previous best of 40 at the same venue earlier this month.

He shared a 94-run stand off 52 balls with the ever-reliable Kusal Mendis, who anchored the innings with a composed 61 off 45 balls — his second successive half-century of the tournament and 19th overall in T20Is. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking smartly, rotating strike efficiently as Sri Lanka maintained a healthy run rate through the middle overs.

Shanaka then provided the late fireworks. After a lean run in the build-up to the tournament, the skipper exploded with a 19-ball fifty — the fastest by a Sri Lankan in T20 World Cup history. He tore into Nadeem Khan and Sufyan Mehmood with a flurry of boundaries and towering sixes before falling in the 19th over. Kamindu Mendis added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 19 off seven balls, as Sri Lanka plundered 65 runs in the final four overs.

Oman’s chase never gained momentum. Dushmantha Chameera struck in the very first over to remove captain Jatinder Singh, and the wickets continued to tumble as Oman slumped to 36 for 3 inside the Powerplay.

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Chameera (2/19) was incisive with the new ball, while Maheesh Theekshana delivered a clinical spell of 2 for 11 from his four overs. Though Wasim Ali briefly counter-attacked with two successive sixes off Dushan Hemantha, lifting Oman to 75 for 3, the resistance was short-lived.

Theekshana dismissed Wasim for 27 to trigger a collapse that saw Oman crash from 75 for 3 to 91 for 6. A sharp direct hit from Kamil Mishara ran out Vinayak Shukla, while Kusal Mendis produced a sharp stumping to remove Jiten Ramanandi for a golden duck.

Veteran Mohammad Nadeem fought a lone battle with a valiant fifty, his third in 71 T20I appearances but Oman were eventually restricted to 120 for 9.

With two wins from as many matches, the 2014 champions now sit atop Group B, ahead of Australia and Zimbabwe, who have one win each.