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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 concludes its Group B action as Australia faces Oman in Match 40 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. For Australia, this is a somber final fixture; following a shock defeat to Zimbabwe and a clinical dismantling by Sri Lanka, the 2021 champions have been officially eliminated from the tournament. Oman, too, is out of the running for the Super 8s after heavy losses, making this a battle for pride. Australia will be desperate to avoid a winless exit, while Oman looks to secure a historic maiden World Cup victory against a major cricketing nation.
AUS vs OMA, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details
- Date and Time: February 20 (Friday); 7:00 pm IST / 1:30 pm GMT / 4:30 pm Local
- Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Head-to-Head Record (T20Is):
Matches played: 1 | Australia won: 1 | Oman won: 0
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Pallekele surface is generally one of the best batting tracks in Sri Lanka, offering a balanced contest with true bounce and carry. Unlike the spin-heavy surfaces in Colombo, Kandy allows stroke-makers to thrive, especially during the Powerplay. However, the pitch typically offers some lateral movement to the pacers early on, and as the game progresses, tactical spin becomes a factor. The average first-innings score here in T20Is is around 165-175. With a 7:00 pm start, mist or light dew in the latter half of the game could make the ball difficult to grip, often prompting captains to bowl first to take advantage of the better batting conditions under lights.
Team dynamics and key players
Australia: The mood in the Aussie camp is “devastated” following their early exit. Injuries have plagued their campaign; regular captain Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out with internal testicular bleeding, leaving Travis Head to lead a depleted side. Steve Smith was finally drafted into the squad but missed the Sri Lanka game, leading to significant criticism of the selection panel. The Aussies will rely on the raw pace of Nathan Ellis and the leg-spin of Adam Zampa to restore some dignity, while the middle order, featuring Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, needs to finally fire after a string of collapses.
Oman: Captain Jatinder Singh leads a side that has struggled to adapt to the elite level this tournament. Despite heavy defeats, they have shown flashes of resilience. Mohammad Nadeem has been their standout performer with the bat, while veteran Bilal Khan remains their primary threat with the ball, having taken over 110 T20I wickets. For Oman, the strategy is simple: attack Australia’s under-fire top order early and use the spin of Aamir Kaleem to tighten the screws in the middle overs.
Squads:
Oman: Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh(c), Ashish Odedara, Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla(w), Mohammad Nadeem, Jiten Ramanandi, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Shakeel Ahmed, Shah Faisal, Shafiq Jan, Karan Sonavale, Jay Odedra, Wasim Ali
Australia: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis(w), Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis, Matt Renshaw, Matthew Kuhnemann, Steve Smith
AUS vs OMA, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Australia wins the toss and bowls first
- Oman’s Powerplay score: 35–45 (6 overs)
- Oman’s total score: 130–145
Case 2:
- Oman wins the toss and bowls first
- Australia’s Powerplay score: 55–65 (6 overs)
- Australia’s total score: 185–200
Match result: Australia to win the contest.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
