T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka face Oman challenge after Hasaranga blow

Wicketkeeper-batter Vinayak Shukla struck a defiant tone ahead of the match, insisting Oman remain confident despite their opening loss.

“We worked hard in the backstage after that game… one bad game doesn’t define you as a team,” he said, underlining the squad’s determination to respond strongly.

Oman arrived early at the venue for extra practice sessions, focusing on tackling spin and building partnerships — areas that proved costly against Zimbabwe.

Shukla’s message reflects a belief that the team’s batting unit can recover quickly and compete at the highest level. With Sri Lanka still searching for consistency in the middle overs and reshaping their bowling combination, Oman will view this clash as an opportunity to turn pressure into a statement performance on the global stage.

Oman arrive in the contest searching for redemption following an eight-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe, where their batting lineup struggled against pace and extra bounce.

The top five batters failed to reach double digits, exposing vulnerabilities that need urgent attention if they are to challenge Sri Lanka.

Captain Jatinder Singh believes a total in the range of 150-160 will be necessary to give their bowlers a fighting chance.

Despite the disappointing start, Oman’s bowling unit showed promise, with Sufyan Mehmood and Shah Faisal delivering disciplined spells.

Drawing on past memories of their upset win over Ireland in 2016, the team will hope to rediscover that fearless approach and capitalise on Sri Lanka’s middle-overs weaknesses.

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera described Hasaranga’s absence as a “big loss” but insisted the entire bowling unit must step up to fill the void.

“Yes, not having Wanindu is a big loss for the team… I think the entire bowling unit gets the responsibility,” he said, emphasising a shared approach.

Replacement Dushan Hemantha, though relatively inexperienced at the international level, brings versatility as a spin-bowling all-rounder and familiarity with local conditions.

Maheesh Theekshana, who picked up three wickets in the opener, will likely carry increased expectations to lead the spin department.

Chameera also highlighted that Sri Lanka’s bowlers need to adapt to varying boundary sizes and conditions, suggesting tactical flexibility will be key to maintaining their defensive edge without their star spinner.

Kamindu Mendis’ explosive 19-ball 44 provided the finishing flourish Sri Lanka needed against Ireland, lifting the side to a competitive total after a quiet middle phase.

However, the team will expect more consistency from openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara, both of whom showed promise but failed to convert starts into impactful scores.

The reliance on late acceleration is a risky formula in high-pressure matches, and Sri Lanka’s think tank will want their top order to set a stronger platform.

Chameera later revealed that Kusal Mendis had been slightly unwell during the previous game, which may have contributed to the lack of running between the wickets.

Even so, improving the transition from powerplay aggression to middle-overs consolidation remains a priority ahead of facing Oman.

Despite registering a 20-run victory over Ireland, Sri Lanka’s batting frailties were laid bare during a prolonged middle-overs slowdown.

The 2014 champions failed to hit a single boundary between the seventh and 15th overs once Ireland introduced spin, a phase that Oman are likely to target aggressively.

While Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with a gritty half-century, the inability to rotate strike consistently or clear the ropes put pressure on the lower order. The team management has acknowledged that improving singles and doubles during this phase will be crucial moving forward.

With larger boundary dimensions at certain venues also playing a role, Sri Lanka’s batters must adapt their tempo to avoid stagnation, especially against disciplined spin attacks.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the ICC T20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Oman in Pallekele.

Sri Lanka head into their Group B T20 World Cup clash against Oman with renewed confidence but clear areas to address, particularly after losing star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga to a hamstring injury.

The former champions began their campaign with a hard-fought win over Ireland, yet the absence of their premier spinner has forced a rethink of both their bowling balance and middle-overs strategy.

Hasaranga’s ability to control the tempo through spin and provide breakthroughs had long been central to Sri Lanka’s plans, and his exit has placed additional pressure on the rest of the attack.

With spin expected to play a major role on familiar conditions, Sri Lanka will look for collective responsibility to replace their talisman as they aim to maintain momentum in the tournament.