The picturesque Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy sets the stage for what appears to be a lopsided encounter between hosts Sri Lanka and an Oman side reeling from a heavy defeat. Sri Lanka, despite a scrappy win over Ireland in their opener, will be eager to produce a more commanding performance to boost their net run rate and confidence. Oman faces a monumental challenge; their batting collapsed for 103 against Zimbabwe, and now they must confront a Sri Lankan spin attack in its own backyard. This match presents a classic scenario of a Full Member team leveraging home advantage against an Associate nation desperately needing a batting resurgence, making Sri Lanka overwhelming favorites.
Sri Lanka vs Oman Win Probability
RCBW vs DCW Batting Tips
SL vs OMA, Group B T20 World Cup 2026 16th Match Details
| Match | ICC T20 World Cup 2026, 16th Match, Group B |
| Date | Thursday, February 12, 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 AM (IST) |
| Venue | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy |
| Live Streaming (TV) | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming (Mobile) | JioHotstar |
SL vs OMA Team Form – Who Will Win Today’s Match?
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s form is mixed (W, L, L, L, W), but they started the World Cup with a win. Their key strength is a spin-heavy bowling attack tailor-made for home conditions. Wanindu Hasaranga (if fit), Maheesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage can strangle oppositions. The batting has firepower in Kusal Mendis (in good touch) and the explosive Kamindu Mendis (44 off 19 last game). The psychological edge comes from playing at home against an opponent low on confidence, and the need for a big win to build momentum.
Oman
Oman’s form is poor (L, W, L, W, L), and they were bowled out for 103 in their World Cup opener. Their strength is a disciplined bowling unit that can exploit helpful conditions, as seen with Sufyan Mehmood (2-12 last game). The batting relies heavily on captain Jatinder Singh and Vinayak Shukla to perform. Their realistic objective is to post a competitive total (145-160) and hope their bowlers can create pressure. The key challenge is overcoming the massive gulf in class and experience, especially against quality spin on a turning track.
SL vs OMA Probable Playing XI
Sri Lanka Probable XI-
Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga / Charith Asalanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana.
Oman Probable XI-
Jatinder Singh (C), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Jiten Ramanandi, Vinayak Shukla (WK), Sufyan Mehmood, Nadeem Khan, Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmed.
SL vs OMA Head-to-Head Record
This is the first-ever T20 International meeting between the two nations.
SL vs OMA Pitch Report
The Pallekele pitch is a balanced surface that tends to slow down as the match progresses. It offers good conditions for batting early on but provides significant assistance to spin bowlers throughout the innings. A competitive first innings score is typically in the range of 160-170, with teams setting a target aiming for 180. Chasing can be difficult as the pitch deteriorates, making the toss an important factor.
SL vs OMA Weather Report
Conditions will be warm, humid, and mostly cloudy with a 25% chance of showers around the peak of the day. Temperatures will be around 28-29°C, feeling hotter. The cloud cover could aid swing early on, and the humidity will challenge players. A rain interruption is a slight possibility.
SL vs OMA Toss Prediction
The captain winning the toss will likely choose to bowl first. This decision is influenced by the cloudy overhead conditions, which could help seamers early, and the tendency of the pitch to slow down, making chasing a known target potentially easier than setting one under variable weather.
SL vs OMA Match Prediction
The gulf in quality and conditions is simply too vast. Sri Lanka’s world-class spin attack is expected to dismantle an Oman batting lineup that crumbled for 103 in their last game. While Oman’s bowlers can be disciplined, Sri Lanka’s batting, led by the in-form Kusal Mendis, has the firepower to post a daunting total. An Oman victory would constitute one of the biggest shocks of the tournament. Expect a comprehensive and dominant performance from the hosts to secure a vital win.
SL vs OMA Dream11 Team
- Wicketkeeper: Kusal Mendis, Vinayak Shukla
- Batters: Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Jatinder Singh
- All-rounders: Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage
- Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Sufyan Mehmood, Matheesha Pathirana
Captain (C) Pick: Kusal Mendis,Pathum Nissanka.
Vice-Captain (VC) Pick: Maheesh Theekshana, Sufyan Mehmood
