The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 clash between Australia and Sri Lanka on February 16 has delivered a whirlwind of drama, skill, and shifting momentum, both on and off the field. Heading into the match, all eyes were on Australia’s squad changes and their hopes of bouncing back after a disappointing defeat to Zimbabwe. The late addition of Steve Smith, replacing the injured Josh Hazlewood, injected fresh intrigue into the contest and promised to reshape the Aussies’ batting order at a crucial moment in their campaign.
Australia’s innings started with a bang, as openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh put on a dazzling 104-run partnership that set the tone for a potentially massive total. Head and Marsh attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers with authority, racing to 70 runs in the opening six overs. The pair’s aggressive approach had Australian fans dreaming of a score well beyond 200, especially with the likes of Smith waiting in the wings to make an impact.
But cricket, as always, has a way of flipping the script. After Head was caught on the boundary, Australia’s innings unraveled with alarming speed. The Sri Lankan bowlers, led by a disciplined death-overs display, seized control. In a remarkable turnaround, Australia lost their last 10 wickets for just 77 runs, collapsing to a final total of 181. It was a stunning reversal, considering the early dominance. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, especially Chameera, who snared Marcus Stoinis with a cunning slower ball, and Maheesh Theekshana, who took a diving catch, were instrumental in triggering the collapse.
The fielding, too, was electric. Sri Lanka picked up six wickets in the final five overs, including two dramatic run outs—Adam Zampa and Xavier Bartlett both fell victim to sharp work from the Sri Lankans. As the dust settled, Australia’s 181 looked competitive, but not insurmountable, especially considering the dew that had begun to settle on the outfield, making life tricky for bowlers and favoring the chasing side.
“Sri Lanka picked up 6-30 off the last five overs in Australia’s innings, just phenomenal death bowling,” one observer noted, and it was hard to disagree. The Australians, who had looked set for a commanding total, were left to rue missed opportunities and a lack of composure under pressure. The collapse also highlighted Australia’s ongoing struggles in the middle and lower order, a concern that Smith’s inclusion was meant to address.
The change in personnel was the talk of the cricketing world before the match. Steve Smith, a veteran of 67 T20Is and a key figure in Australia’s victorious 2021 World Cup campaign, was drafted in after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out with a persistent calf strain. “The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Steve Smith as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood in the Australia squad,” the ICC confirmed in a media release. Smith’s return was seen as a move to add stability and experience to a batting lineup that had shown signs of fragility in recent outings.
Smith’s recent form in the shortest format had certainly justified his recall. During the Big Bash League 2025–26 season, he amassed 299 runs in just six matches for the Sydney Sixers, averaging an impressive 59.80 with a strike rate of 167.97. His campaign included a blistering century—reaching the milestone in just 41 balls, the joint second-fastest in BBL history—along with two half-centuries. Such exploits made him a natural choice to bolster Australia’s batting, especially with captain Mitchell Marsh only just returning from a groin injury that had sidelined him for the tournament’s opening games.
“Smith is named as a replacement for Hazlewood, who is now officially ruled out from participating in the tournament due to a calf injury,” the ICC’s statement read. The Australian camp had monitored Hazlewood’s rehabilitation closely, hoping he might recover in time for the later stages. But with time running out, the team management acted decisively, bringing in Smith to add both class and composure to the side.
As the match moved into its second half, Sri Lanka faced a daunting chase: 182 runs would be a record on this ground. Yet, the co-hosts started brightly, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis showing intent and flair against the Australian pace attack. Nissanka, in particular, played some audacious shots—clipping Bartlett for six over fine leg and unleashing a reverse hit for another maximum off Connolly. Mendis, Sri Lanka’s in-form batter, joined in with a flurry of boundaries, including a pair of sweeps to the fence and a confident pull off Zampa.
Australia’s bowlers, including Nathan Ellis and Marcus Stoinis, tried to stem the flow, but the dew made gripping the ball a challenge. Adam Zampa, usually a reliable spinner, struggled to find his rhythm, with several deliveries slipping out as full tosses and being dispatched to the boundary. “I reckon the dew is bothering Zampa here,” a commentator observed, and the runs began to flow more freely for Sri Lanka.
The Australians did manage some breakthroughs. Marcus Stoinis, bowling with his left hand strapped after a blow in the previous match, struck early to remove Kusal Perera, caught at deep point. But the Sri Lankan middle order, led by Nissanka and Mendis, kept the scoreboard ticking, matching Australia’s powerplay tally almost run for run. By the end of the sixth over, Sri Lanka had 61 on the board, just nine behind Australia at the same stage—plenty of hope for the home crowd.
As the chase progressed, Australia’s fielders worked hard to keep the pressure on. Cameron Green’s diving stop at deep square leg and Maxwell’s full-length dive to save three runs were highlights, but Sri Lanka’s batsmen continued to find gaps and punish loose deliveries. The Australians, perhaps feeling the absence of Hazlewood’s control at the death, rotated their bowlers in search of a breakthrough.
With the game still in progress and all to play for, the tension at the ground was palpable. Could Sri Lanka pull off a record chase and delight their home fans, or would Australia’s bowlers find a way to defend their total and keep their World Cup hopes alive? One thing is certain: with Smith’s return, Marsh’s leadership, and the likes of Head and Stoinis in form, the Aussies have the firepower to challenge anyone. But in T20 cricket, momentum can shift in a flash—and as this match has shown, no lead is ever truly safe.
As the action continues under the Colombo lights, fans are glued to every ball, knowing that the stakes couldn’t be higher. Whether Australia can regroup and hold their nerve, or Sri Lanka can ride the wave to a historic win, this World Cup clash is shaping up to be one for the ages.