PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Captain Dasun Shanaka broke his own record for the fastest Twenty20 half-century for Sri Lanka as they crushed Oman by 105 runs at the T20 World Cup on Thursday.
Shanaka’s 19-ball 50 along with Kusal Mendis' 61 and Pavan Rathnayake's 60 against a weak bowling attack propelled Sri Lanka to a tournament-best 225-5.
Oman labored to 120-9 in reply, the wickets shared by five bowlers. Off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana led with 2-11 off four overs.
Sri Lanka was two wins from two games but yet to meet Group B rivals Australia and Zimbabwe.
Oman's 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem became the oldest man to score a half-century in the history of the T20 World Cup with an unbeaten 53 from 56 balls. Nadeem was one of the only two Oman batters to reach double figures with Wasim Ali scoring 27.
Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishra inside the power play but Rathnayake and Mendis featured in a brisk 94-run third-wicket stand off 52 balls.
Shanaka smacked five sixes to surpass his previous Sri Lanka record of a 20-ball half-century against India in 2023 before he holed out at long-off of the very next ball.
Debutant Italy opted to field against Nepal as both teams chased their maiden victory at the tournament in Group C.
Co-host India, which beat the United States in its Group A opener, plays Namibia at New Delhi later.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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