A manic Monday at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup produced two qualifiers and one survivor. Sri Lanka and England both booked their places in the Super 8s with statement wins – Sri Lanka outclassing Australia in Kandy, England holding off a thrilling Italian chase in Kolkata, while Afghanistan stayed alive in Group D with a tense five-wicket win over UAE in New Delhi.
Sri Lanka delivered the kind of performance that changes the feel of a tournament, sharp planning with the ball, then ruthless clarity with the bat.
After winning the toss and choosing to field, the co-hosts absorbed an early Australian onslaught led by a returning Mitchell Marsh and the ever-dangerous Travis Head, who struck 56 with seven fours and three sixes as Australia raced to 70 without loss in the powerplay. But once Head fell at 104, the innings lost momentum badly. From 105/1 after nine overs, Australia managed only 31 runs in the next five, and finished on 18, a total that felt competitive, not commanding.
Sri Lanka’s spinners were central to the squeeze. Dushan Hemantha led the way with 3/37, and the slowing grip of Dunith Wellalage helped derail Australia’s middle order. A spectacular leaping catch from Pathum Nissanka to remove Glenn Maxwell after he’d been reprieved earlier summed up Sri Lanka’s evening: switched on, athletic, and relentless.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera early, Marcus Stoinis drawing a tame slice to deep backward point but it only served to bring the game’s defining partnership. Nissanka and Kusal Mendis batted with fluent authority, their strokeplay exposing Australia’s lack of control. Both reached half-centuries, and although Stoinis broke their 97-run stand by removing Mendis for 51, Sri Lanka never loosened their grip.
With Pavan Rathnayake offering support, Nissanka went into overdrive including a 20-run assault on Stoinis, and brought up the first century of this World Cup in the 18th over. He finished 100 not out, steering Sri Lanka home and sending the co-hosts into the Super 8s with momentum and belief.
England are through, but Italy made them work for it. In a high-scoring contest at Eden Gardens, England posted 202 after choosing to bat, despite stalling at 105/5 in 12.4 overs. Several top-order batters got starts, Phil Salt (28), Tom Banton (30) and Jacob Bethell (23) without turning them into something bigger, leaving England briefly exposed.
That changed when Will Jacks and Sam Curran flipped the tempo. Their 54-run burst from just 25 balls gave England the platform for a brutal finish, with England plundering 88 runs in the last six overs. Jacks completed a rapid half-century, the fastest by an Englishman at a T20 World Cup, and finished 53 not out, while Curran’s 25 off 19 ensured England crossed the 200 mark.
Italy’s response was fearless, and for long stretches looked good enough to steal a famous win. England struck early, Jofra Archer removing Anthony Mosca and JJ Smuts in the same opening over, and Italy were checked in the powerplay, but then came a breathtaking counter-attack.
Benjamin Manenti detonated England’s bowling with 60 off 25 balls, six sixes and four fours, while Justin Mosca played the calmer foil with 43. Their 92-run stand in just 48 balls dragged Italy right back into the contest, and when Grant Stewart launched 45 off 23, England were forced to defend every inch.
In the end, 203 proved just out of reach. England held their nerve to win by 24 runs, with Curran producing the telling spell, 3/22 and Jamie Overton impressing with control on a flat surface, returning 3/18.
Afghanistan’s tournament remains alive jjust after they scraped past UAE by five wickets in New Delhi in a match that swung repeatedly.
Choosing to field first, Afghanistan made the perfect start, reducing UAE to 13/2, before Sohaib Khan and Alishan Sharafu rebuilt with an 84-run partnership. Sohaib was the standout, striking 68 off 48 with six fours and four sixes, while Sharafu’s 40 offered support. But once Sharafu fell, UAE could not sustain momentum and slid from 97/3 to 160/9.
Azmatullah Omarzai was outstanding, finishing with 4/15, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman chipped in with key wickets, including Sharafu and captain Muhammad Waseem.
The chase started badly when Junaid Siddique removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz with the second ball and began with a miserly opening spell. Afghanistan’s pursuit remained stop-start, but Ibrahim Zadran steadied the innings with a well-paced fifty before falling as acceleration looked possible.
Then Omarzai completed his all-round rescue mission: 40 not out, including two fours and three sixes, taking Afghanistan over the line with four balls to spare and keeping the qualification race alive behind already-qualified South Africa.
Sri Lanka and England move on, Sri Lanka with real swagger, England with a reminder that depth and nerve still travel. Afghanistan, meanwhile, remain in the fight, but only just, and Group D’s final qualification place is set up for a tense finish.
