Sri Lanka, England make it to T20 World Cup Super 8s

Broadcast details for Men's T20 World Cup 2026

England fought hard against Italy to secure a 24-run win in Kolkata to seal their Super 8 spot. In Kandy, co-hosts Sri Lanka put up a clinical display to mow down Australia, progressing to the next stage of the tournament as well.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan kept their chances alive with a nervy victory over UAE in Delhi earlier in the day.

Sri Lanka trump Australia

Scorecard

Sri Lanka registered a memorable result against Australia, restricting them to 181. In reply, Australia were able to get an early breakthrough, dismissing opener Kusal Perera for just the one run in the second over.

It was Marcus Stoinis who got the wicket, making Perera slice tamely at a short of length delivery and give a simple catch to deep backward point.

However, the wicket did not slow down the co-hosts as the other opener Pathum Nissanka took charge, and along with the No.3 Kusal Mendis, troubled the Australian bowlers with their brilliant strokeplay. Both batters evetually got their half-centuries, keeping Sri Lanka on track.

Stoinis again came to Australia's rescue, breaking the 97-run stand for the second wicket, dismissing Mendis for 51.

But the island nation refused to back down. Pavan Rathnayake provided the perfect support to Nissanka, who kept up with his onslaught, reducing the gap between the number of runs and balls left. 20 runs came off the next Stoinis over as Nissanka hammered without restraint.

The Australian bowlers struggled to get back in the game as Nissanka finally brought his century in the 18th over, becoming the first batter to get to the milestone in this edition of the T20 World Cup.

He remained unbeaten on 100, the joint-highest individual scores for SL in T20 World Cups. It was also the second-fastest T20I hundred for Sri Lanka.

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field against Australia in a match that may well decide the Super Eight prospects of the two teams. After Australia charged out of the blocks, Sri Lanka scripted a superb recovery to hold them to 181.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh returned to the playing XI after missing the previous match due to injury scare. And he made an instant impact, giving Australia the best start this World Cup so far. Marsh and Travis Head led the charge as Australia raced to 70/0 in powerplay.

Australia's man for the big moments, Travis Head delivered yet again, scoring 56, with the help of seven fours and three sixes. But after Head fell at 104, Australia added less than 80 runs for the last nine wickets.

Sri Lankan spinners did all the the damage. Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha provided the breakthrough by forcing an error from Head and then returned to pack off his partner. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage lured Green out, only for Kusal Mendis to complete an easy stumping. Kamindu Mendis, who bowls ocassionally dimissed the big-hitting Tim David.

While Australia were 105/1 after nine overs, they scored only 31 runs in the next five overs.

After giving Glenn Maxwell a repreive at 18, Pathum Nissanka held on to an incredible leaping catch as Maxwell attempted a switch hit. The blazing start gave Australia the impetus for a big total, but their middle order continues to disappoint and could never recover enough to put the pressure back on Sri Lanka.

In bowling, Hemantha led the way with 3/37 while pacer Dushmantha Chameera finished with 2/36.

England quash Italian challenge

Scorecard

England sealed qualification to the Super Eight with a 24-run win over Italy in a high-scoring thriller. Chasing a hefty 203 on the board, Italy went down fighting, before they were folded for 178.

All-round efforts from Will Jacks (53 not out, 1 wicket) and Sam Curran (25 runs, three wickets) powered England across the finish line.

Jofra Archer struck twice in his opening over, flooring Anthony Mosca and JJ Smuts with pace and bounce. Wicketkeepr Jos Buttler leapt up and plucked the ball in the air as Harry Manenti attempted to scoop Jamie Overton.

After difficult first two overs, Italy scored 47/3 in powerplay. Justin Mosca and Benjamin Manenti mounted a fightback to take their team to 84/3 in 10 overs. It was Manenti who provided the firepower, scoring 60 off just 25 balls, hitting six sixes and four fours. Amidst the chaos, Mosca kept his head down to score 43. Their 92-run stand, off just 48 balls, gave the team a launchpad.

Grant Stewart kept the team in the hunt till the very end with 45 off 23, with the help of five sixes and two fours. But 203 proved a bridge too far for the tournament debutants.

Sam Curran finished with 3/22 while Jamie Overton was the most econmical bowler on a plush batting track, returning with figures of 3/18 in four overs.

Electing to bat first, England charged out of the blocks scoring 56 runs in powerplay. But they lost a clutch of wickets slipping to 105/5 in 12.4 overs. Phil Salt (28), Jacob Bethell (23), Tom Banton (30) all got their eye in but were not able to convert it into a big innings.

Will Jacks and Curran (25 off 19) regained momentum with a fiery partnership of 54 off just 25. The former champions switched gears after 14 overs, plundering 88 overs in the last six overs.

Jacks, who dealt mainly in boundaries towards the end, swept for six to bring up his first T20I and the England 200 in the last over. His 21-ball 50 was the fastest by an Englishman in the T20 World Cup.

Five of the six Italian bowlers were among wickets, but Crishan Kalugamage and Grant Stewart topped with two wickets each. Though they did well in phases, all Italian bowlers conceded eight an over or more.

Afghanistan beat UAE to get on the board

Scorecard

Afghanistan stayed in contention for the Super Eight stage with a five-wicket win over UAE in New Delhi on Monday. An all-round performance from Azmatullah Omarzai helped Afghanistan to their first win of this World Cup campaign.

Afghanistan have climbed to No 3 in Group D, and are battling with New Zealand and UAE for the final qualification spot from their group. Having won their first three matches, South Africa are through.

After electing to field first, Afghanistan restricted UAE to 160/9 in 20 overs. It was touch and go, but Afghanistan chased down the target with four balls and five wickets to spare.

Junaid Siddique struck early for UAE, dismissing the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz on the second ball of the innings. His incredible opening spell read 1/7 in two overs.

They put on 41/2 in powerplay, but it has been a stop-start innings by Afghanistan. Opener Ibrahim Zadran helped them recover from early wickets with a well-paced half-century. He struck six fours and a six but fell just when it looked like they were getting a move on in their chase.

Omarzai, who had snapped four wickets, then dominated with the bat, hitting two fours and three sixes for an unbeaten 40 to take his team over the line.

Afghanistan bowlers were in form on Monday and gave the team the perfect start, claiming to early wickets to reduce UAE to 13/2.

Alishan Sharafu and Sohaib Khan mounted fightback with an 84-run partnership. While the in-form Sharafu scored 40, Sohaib was the standout performer with 68 off 48 balls, and carted the ball for six fours and four sixes.

However, the innings couldn't gain traction once Sharafu was back in the pavilion. From 97/3, UAE crashed to 160/9 in 20 overs. Pacer Omarzai pegged UAE back with timely wickets, finishing with an incredible 4/15. Mujeeb Ur Rahman also claimed the important wickets of Sharafu and captain Muhammad Waseem.

Broadcast details for Men's T20 World Cup 2026