New Delhi: Captain Dashun Shanaka broke his own record with a 19-ball fifty as Sri Lanka posted the highest total of the T20 World Cup 2026 in a Group B match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele. Shanaka, who also held the previous record for the fastest T20I fifty for Sri Lanka, went berserk, demolishing the Oman bowling attack to power the co-hosts to a mammoth 225 for five in 20 overs.

Shanaka showed his intentions straightaway, scoring 34 off just 10 balls, including 2 fours and 3 sixes, at an explosive strike rate. He continued the onslaught and hit two more maximums but was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over.

#SriLanka turn it into a batting masterclass! 🦁🔥

Pavan, Kusal and skipper Dasun Shanaka raise commanding half-centuries as SL post the highest total of this T20 World Cup edition 👏💥

Can Oman rewrite the script, or will Sri Lanka seal the top spot in their group?

ICC Men’s… pic.twitter.com/6l8exjCNW3

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia)

Shanaka beat his own previous record of a 20-ball 50 against India in Pune in 2023.

Fastest fifty for Sri Lanka in T20Is

19 – Dasun Shanaka vs OMA, Pallekele, 2026 WC*
20 – Dasun Shanaka vs IND, Pune, 2023
21 – M Jayawardene vs KEN, Joburg, 2007 WC
21 – K Sangakkara vs IND, Nagpur, 2009

Besides Shanaka, Pavan Ratnayake and Kusal Mendis also scored blazing fifties as Sri Lanka posted their second-highest total in T20I cricket.

Highest totals for Sri Lanka in T20Is

260/6 vs KEN, Johannesburg, 2007 World Cup
225/5 vs OMA, Pallekele, 2026 World Cup*
218/5 vs NZ, Nelson, 2025
215/5 vs IND, Nagpur, 2009
215/3 vs WI, Pallekele, 2015

Mendis (61 off 45 balls), and Ratnayake (60 off 28 balls) demolished  Oman’s bowling to lead the home side to a 200-plus total after being asked to bat first. Their 94-run stand was key to Sri Lanka’s big total.

Sri Lanka scored 65 runs in the last four overs, including 17 in the final over of the innings.

For Oman, left-arm pacer Jiten Ramanandi took a couple of wickets.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka: 225/5 in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 61, Dasun Shanaka 50, Pavan Ratnayake 60; Jiten Ramanandi 2/41)