In an exhilarating clash on Saturday at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Sri Lanka faced off against Pakistan. While Pakistan managed a thrilling 5-run victory, they were knocked out of the race for the semifinals. This marked the end of Pakistan's journey in this T20 World Cup. As a result of Pakistan's loss, New Zealand progressed to the semifinals, meaning both England and New Zealand qualified from Group 2.
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bowl first, setting the stage for a competitive match. Pakistan clashed back with Sahibzada Farhan's impressive century, establishing a challenging target of 213 runs. Had the Pakistani bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 147 runs, Pakistan would have moved forward to the semifinals due to their superior net run rate. However, Sri Lanka surpassed this boundary in the 16th over, drawing themselves closer to victory. They required 28 runs in the last over but fell short by 5 runs.
Sri Lanka's Batting Journey
Chasing 213 was no easy feat, as Sri Lanka's start was rocky with Pathum Nissanka falling to Naseem Shah in the second over. With the scoreboard reading 33, Sri Lanka faced another setback. Charith Asalanka showed promise, advancing the score to 75 before losing his wicket. Subsequently, Sri Lanka suffered additional losses at scores of 94 and 101.
The match took a turn when Dasun Shanaka and Pawan Rathnayake formed a formidable partnership. Facing Pakistani bowlers head-on, Pawan's sensational fifty helped them breach the crucial 147-run threshold by the 16th over, which could have sent Pakistan to the semifinals. Pawan's valiant innings ended in the 18th over, scoring a swift 58 off 37 balls.
Dasun Shanaka continued the assault brilliantly. In a nail-biting final over, Sri Lanka required 28 runs for victory. However, with a slightest miss, Pakistan clinched the match by 5 runs. Shanaka's remarkable performance concluded with 76 runs off 31 balls, featuring 2 fours and 8 sixes.
Pakistan's Batting Exploits
Paving the way for an explosive start, Pakistan's openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman faced Sri Lanka's bowlers unperturbed. Their aggressive batting left Pakistan standing at a commanding 78 runs from just the first 8 overs. Their relentless onslaught persisted, rewarding both with fiery fifties and pushing towards a mammoth partnership of 176 runs.
Fakhar Zaman departed in the 16th over, having scored a dynamic 84 from 42 balls, bringing on Pakistan's first hurdle. Within the succeeding over, Khawaja Nafe fell after scoring merely 2 runs. At 198, Pakistan suffered another hiccup with Shadab Khan's runout, having contributed 7 runs. Yet, Farhan shone brightly with a hundred off 59 deliveries. However, the 19th over saw another blow as Nawaz got dismissed for a duck. In the final over, Farhan too fell, making 100 from 60 balls with a commendable 9 fours and 5 sixes. Conclusively, Pakistan accumulated 212 runs with the loss of 8 wickets in their allocated 20 overs.
Semifinal Dynamics Emerge
As the tournament advances, three teams have cemented their semifinal positions. England and New Zealand, from Group 2, have secured their spots, while South Africa leads Group 1. The fourth semifinalist will be unveiled on Sunday with a decisive match between the West Indies and India. The winner will carve a path to the semifinals.
Pakistan (Playing XI):
Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Aga (Captain), Khawaja Nafe, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI):
Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Charith Asalanka, Pawan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Zenith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.
