Video of the Day: T20 World Cup 2026 – Shanaka’s late assault seals Sri Lanka’s dominance vs Oman

Video of the Day: T20 World Cup 2026 – Shanaka’s late assault seals Sri Lanka’s dominance vs Oman (Source: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka lit up Kandy with a breathtaking late-order blitz that capped the hosts’ record-breaking day. Shanaka smashed the fastest T20I fifty by a Sri Lankan, racing to the milestone off just 19 balls. He departed the ball later to finish his stay with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 250, as the Lankan Lions roared loud and hard against the Omanis.

What stood out was the clarity of intent: Shanaka backed away early, created room, and punished anything full or drifting into his arc. Spinners Nadeem Khan and Sufyan Mehmood were taken apart as Shanaka mixed brute force with smart placement, launching five towering sixes and piercing the field with two crisp fours. Overs that promised damage control quickly turned into carnage as the Lankans surged through the death phase.

The half-century came via a simple single, but the statement had already been made. Shanaka’s assault powered his side to 225/5 at the end of 20 overs, which is also the highest total of the tournament thus far, turning the contest into a one-sided affair and underlining their dominance in the morning fixture. The knock also set the tone for Sri Lanka’s second straight win of their Group B campaign.

Watch Video of the Day from Match 16 of T20 World Cup 2026 here