Pathum Nissanka becomes second Sri Lankan with T20 WC hundred
16 Feb 2026

Pathum Nissanka has made history by becoming the first player to score a century in the ongoing 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.

He achieved this feat during Sri Lanka's match against Australia at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

His unbeaten knock of 100 runs off just 52 balls helped Sri Lanka chase down Australia's target of 182 runs and secure their place in the Super Eight stage.

This was his second ton in the T20I format.

A brilliant hand from Nissanka
Knock

SL were off to a poor start with opener Kusal Perera (1) departing cheaply.

However, a 97-run stand between Kusal Mendis (51) and Nissanka put the Lankans in command.

Nissanka's fearless strokeplay kept the chase under control as Mendis also gathered runs at brilliant pace.

The former further added 79 runs with Pavan Rathnayake (15-ball 28*) as SL (184/2) prevailed in 18 overs.

First-ever hundred against Australia in T20 World Cup
Milestone achievement

Nissanka scored the first-ever hundred scored against Australia in a T20 World Cup match.

The previous highest score against Australia in this tournament was Umar Akmal's 94 runs in Mirpur back in 2014.

Meanwhile, Nissanka became only the second Sri Lankan to score a T20 WC hundred.

He joined Mahela Jayawardene, who had scored exactly 100 against Zimbabwe in the 2010 edition of this tournament.

Having taken 52 balls, Nissanka hit the joint-second-fastest T20I hundred by a SL batter.

Nissanka goes past 2,500 T20I runs
Career

Nissanka's unbeaten 100 runs off 52 balls was laced with 10 fours and five sixes.

With his 26th run, the batter became the second Sri Lankan after Kusal Mendis (2,593) to complete 2,500 runs in T20I cricket.

He has now completed 2,574 runs across 87 games in the format.

While he averages 31.77, his strike rate is 128.63.

Notably, the 27-year-old also became the first batter from his country to hammer multiple T20I tons (50s: 18).

Over 600 runs in T20 WCs
T20 WCs

622 of Nissanka's runs have come in 21 T20 WC games as he now averages 31.10 in the tourney.

His tally includes five fifties besides this ton. Meanwhile, the batter now has 860 runs in home T20Is at 34.40.

This includes five 50-plus scores (100: 1). Against the Aussies, he now has 397 runs from 11 outings at 39.70 (100: 1, 50: 1).

Over 4,500 T20 runs
Fact

Nissanka also went past 4,500 runs in T20 cricket during his stay. He has now completed 4,539 runs from 163 games at an average of 29.86. This was his third hundred as he also has 32 fifties. His strike rate reads 132.1.