Dasun Shanaka smashed the fastest T20I fifty by a Sri Lankan as Sri Lanka crushed Oman by 105 runs in Pallekele on Thursday. The win gave the co hosts their second victory in Group B of the T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka posted 225 for 5, the highest total of the tournament so far. Oman replied with 120 for 9 and never looked in control.
Shanaka promoted himself up the order. He was under pressure to score. The skipper answered in style. He reached his fifty in just 19 balls. He hit five sixes and two fours on a flat pitch. It was a strong reply after a tough few months since he took back the captaincy.
Before Shanaka’s charge, Pavan Rathnayake and Kusal Mendis built the base. Both scored smooth half centuries. They added 94 runs for the third wicket and set up the big total.
Kamindu Mendis then finished the job. The left hander stayed not out on 19 from only seven balls. He struck one four and two sixes to push the total past 220.
Oman had no answer in the chase. They slipped to their second defeat of the tournament.
Mohammad Nadeem fought alone for Oman. The 43 year old remained unbeaten on 53. He became the oldest player to score a fifty in a T20 World Cup.
With the ball, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera shared the new ball. Both bowlers took two wickets each and kept Oman under pressure from the start.
