Australia and Sri Lanka have developed a competitive rivalry in men’s T20 International cricket. Their meetings have produced high-scoring matches, dramatic finishes, World Cup contests and memorable individual performances. Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head in T20Is
The two teams first met in T20I cricket during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007. Since then, they have faced each other regularly in bilateral series and ICC tournaments.
According to the latest records through 16 February 2026, Australia and Sri Lanka have played 27 men’s T20Is. Australia have won 15 matches, Sri Lanka have won 11, and one match was tied. The tied match in Sydney in 2022 was ultimately won by Australia in the Super Over.
Australia vs Sri Lanka T20I Head-to-Head Record
| Category | Australia | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| T20Is played | 27 | 27 |
| Wins | 15 | 11 |
| Losses | 11 | 15 |
| Ties | 1 | 1 |
| No Results | 0 | 0 |
| Highest score | 263/3 | 198/3 |
| Lowest completed total | 149 | 87 |
Australia have a four-match advantage in the overall win column, although Sri Lanka have produced several important victories, particularly in recent ICC competitions. Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head in T20Is
First T20I Meeting in 2007
Australia and Sri Lanka played their first T20I on 20 September 2007 at Newlands in Cape Town during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20.
Australia dominated the match. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 101, after which Australia chased the target without losing a wicket. Australia reached the target in just 10.2 overs, winning by 10 wickets.
The result gave Australia an impressive start to the T20I rivalry.
Early Years of the Rivalry
During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Australia and Sri Lanka played several close T20I matches.
Sri Lanka recorded their first T20I victory over Australia in 2009 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, winning by six wickets. This helped establish Sri Lanka as a competitive opponent despite Australia’s strong start to the rivalry.
The two teams continued to meet in World Twenty20 tournaments and bilateral series, with the overall record remaining relatively close for much of the 2010s.
Sri Lanka’s Strong Period
Sri Lanka enjoyed considerable success against Australia during parts of the 2010s.
The rivalry became particularly interesting because Sri Lanka’s experienced players were able to perform effectively against Australia’s pace attack. Players such as Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Ajantha Mendis made significant contributions to Sri Lanka’s T20 cricket during this period.
Mendis produced one of the best bowling performances in the history of this matchup, taking 6/16 against Australia.
Australia’s Record-Breaking 263/3 in 2016
One of the most memorable matches between Australia and Sri Lanka took place at Pallekele in September 2016.
Australia produced an extraordinary batting performance, scoring 263/3 in 20 overs. This remains Australia’s highest T20I total against Sri Lanka and is also Australia’s highest team total in men’s T20I cricket.
The innings was dominated by Glenn Maxwell, who scored an unbeaten 145. His innings contained a remarkable combination of boundaries and aggressive stroke play.
Australia’s 263/3 remains one of the most important statistical landmarks in this rivalry.
Australia vs Sri Lanka in T20 World Cups
Australia and Sri Lanka have regularly met on the biggest T20 stage.
Their T20 World Cup meetings have included matches featuring different generations of players and contrasting playing conditions.
According to the latest available T20 records, the teams have met seven times in T20 World Cup matches, with Australia winning four and Sri Lanka winning three.
The World Cup record is therefore considerably closer than the overall T20I record.
This is significant because Sri Lanka have often been able to challenge Australia successfully in major tournaments.
The Dramatic 2022 T20I Tie
One of the most memorable matches between the teams occurred at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 13 February 2022.
Australia scored 164/6 from their 20 overs. Sri Lanka also finished on 164/8, meaning the match was tied after both innings.
The match therefore went to a Super Over.
Australia won the Super Over, meaning the official result was a tied match with Australia winning the one-over eliminator. This remains the only tied T20I between Australia and Sri Lanka.
The match demonstrated how closely matched the teams could be in T20 cricket.
Sri Lanka’s 2022 Victory in Pallekele
Sri Lanka also produced a memorable victory during their 2022 home series.
On 11 June 2022 at Pallekele, Sri Lanka chased Australia’s 176/5 and reached 177/6 in 19.5 overs.
Sri Lanka therefore won by four wickets.
The victory was powered by an effective chase and showed Sri Lanka’s ability to handle a substantial Australian total.
Australia Win in Perth
Later in 2022, the teams met at Perth Stadium.
Sri Lanka scored 157/6 in their 20 overs. Australia then chased the target comfortably, reaching 158/3 in 16.3 overs and winning by seven wickets.
Marcus Stoinis was among Australia’s important performers during the match.
Latest Meeting: 2026 T20 World Cup
The latest T20I meeting between Australia and Sri Lanka took place on 16 February 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Australia batted first and were bowled out for 181 in 20 overs. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head gave Australia an explosive start, putting together a century opening partnership.
Sri Lanka then produced an excellent chase.
Pathum Nissanka scored an unbeaten 100 from 52 balls, while Kusal Mendis contributed 51. Sri Lanka reached 184/2 in 18 overs, winning by eight wickets.
Nissanka’s century was one of the defining performances of the match, and the victory helped Sri Lanka secure a place in the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
Highest Team Scores
Australia’s highest T20I score against Sri Lanka is 263/3, scored at Pallekele in 2016.
Sri Lanka’s highest score against Australia is 198/3.
The difference between these two totals highlights Australia’s exceptional 2016 batting performance.
| Team | Highest T20I Score |
|---|---|
| Australia | 263/3 |
| Sri Lanka | 198/3 |
Lowest Team Totals
Australia’s lowest completed total against Sri Lanka is 149, while Sri Lanka’s lowest completed total is 87.
Sri Lanka’s 87 represents one of the more difficult batting performances in the rivalry, particularly compared with their later high-scoring matches.
Leading Run-Scorer
David Warner has been one of Australia’s most successful batsmen against Sri Lanka in T20 cricket.
Available head-to-head statistics credit Warner with 653 runs in the matchup. He also has six half-centuries against Sri Lanka.
His aggressive opening style made him particularly effective in the powerplay against Sri Lanka’s bowlers.
Leading Wicket-Taker
Australia’s Adam Zampa has taken the most wickets in Australia-Sri Lanka T20 matches, with 21 wickets according to the available head-to-head statistics.
For Sri Lanka, Lasith Malinga is among the leading wicket-takers in the rivalry, with 12 wickets recorded in T20 meetings.
Australia vs Sri Lanka: Major T20I Records
Here are some of the major statistical highlights:
- Total T20Is: 27
- Australia wins: 15
- Sri Lanka wins: 11
- Ties: 1
- No Results: 0
- Australia’s highest score: 263/3
- Sri Lanka’s highest score: 198/3
- Australia’s lowest completed total: 149
- Sri Lanka’s lowest completed total: 87
- Australia’s leading run-scorer: David Warner
- Australia’s leading wicket-taker: Adam Zampa
- Best bowling figures: Ajantha Mendis, 6/16
- Latest meeting: Sri Lanka won by eight wickets in February 2026.
Australia vs Sri Lanka T20I Match Results
| Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Sep 2007 | Cape Town | Australia won by 10 wickets |
| 8 Jun 2009 | Nottingham | Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets |
| 2010s | Various venues | Both teams recorded multiple victories |
| 13 Feb 2022 | Sydney | Match tied; Australia won Super Over |
| 18 Feb 2022 | Melbourne | Australia won by 6 wickets |
| 20 Feb 2022 | Melbourne | Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets |
| 7 Jun 2022 | Colombo | Australia won by 10 wickets |
| 8 Jun 2022 | Colombo | Australia won by 3 wickets |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Pallekele | Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets |
| 25 Oct 2022 | Perth | Australia won by 7 wickets |
| 16 Feb 2026 | Pallekele | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
The full historical record contains 27 T20Is, with Australia leading 15-11 and one tie.
Conclusion
The Australia vs Sri Lanka T20I head-to-head record stands at 27 matches, with Australia winning 15, Sri Lanka winning 11, and one match ending in a tie. Australia therefore have the overall advantage, although Sri Lanka have produced several significant victories.
The rivalry has produced some extraordinary T20 cricket, from Australia’s massive 263/3 in 2016 to the dramatic tied match at the SCG in 2022. More recently, Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, powered by Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten 100, added another memorable chapter to the contest.
With both teams possessing explosive batsmen, quality spin options and experienced T20 players, Australia vs Sri Lanka remains an important matchup in international T20 cricket.
5 Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many T20Is have Australia and Sri Lanka played?
Australia and Sri Lanka have played 27 men’s T20 International matches through 16 February 2026.
2. Who has won more T20Is between Australia and Sri Lanka?
Australia have won 15 matches, while Sri Lanka have won 11. One match was tied.
3. What is Australia’s highest T20I score against Sri Lanka?
Australia’s highest score is 263/3, scored at Pallekele in 2016. Glenn Maxwell made an unbeaten 145 in that innings.
4. What is Sri Lanka’s highest T20I score against Australia?
Sri Lanka’s highest score against Australia is 198/3.
5. When did Australia and Sri Lanka last play a T20I?
Their latest T20I was played on 16 February 2026 at Pallekele during the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka won by eight wickets, with Pathum Nissanka scoring an unbeaten 100.