Dushan Hemantha’s Unusual Hit-Wicket Caps Sri Lanka’s Struggles Against England in Super 8
In the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka faced a disheartening defeat against England, marked by Dushan Hemantha’s unusual hit-wicket dismissal. This incident underscored the team’s struggles, as they were bundled out for a mere 95 runs in Pallekele.
Dushan Hemantha’s Hit-Wicket Dismissal
Prior to this tournament, only three hit-wicket dismissals had been recorded in T20 World Cup history. However, the current edition has already seen three such incidents within just 11 days. Hemantha’s dismissal on Sunday was particularly humiliating, epitomizing Sri Lanka’s performance on home soil.
Match Overview
England secured a solid 51-run victory, kicking off their Super 8 Group 2 campaign on a high note. Despite favorable conditions, Sri Lanka struggled to maintain any momentum. The defeat extended England’s winning streak over Sri Lanka to 12 matches, which included a 3-0 series whitewash earlier this month.
Bowling Performance
- Dunith Wellalage: 3 wickets
- Dilshan Madushanka: 2 wickets
- Maheesh Theekshana: 2 wickets
England managed to post a total of 146 runs for 9 wickets in their 20 overs. Phil Salt emerged as the standout performer with an impressive 62 runs, effectively guiding the innings amid regular wickets falling around him.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Collapse
Chasing a target of 147, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure. They were reduced to 34 for 5 within the powerplay, which is the second-lowest powerplay score recorded by a Full Member nation in this World Cup. This marked the first instance where Sri Lanka lost five wickets in the powerplay phase in T20 World Cup history.
- Pathum Nissanka: 9 runs
- Kamil Mishara: 6 runs
- Kusal Mendis: 4 runs
- Pavan Rathnayake: 0 runs
Hemantha’s unfortunate dismissal was particularly emblematic of the chaos. Attempting a stroke, he inadvertently dragged his back foot onto the stumps, becoming the first Sri Lankan player to be out in this manner.
Next Steps for Sri Lanka
With this loss, Sri Lanka faces a crucial challenge ahead. Their next match against New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 25 will be a must-win situation. In contrast, New Zealand’s opening Super 8 match against Pakistan was halted by rain.
