KEY POINTS
- Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five runs but fall short of 64-run victory margin required for semi-final qualification
- Sahibzada Farhan smashes second century of tournament with 100 off 60 balls in record-breaking opening stand
- Dasun Shanaka’s breathtaking 76 off 31 balls with eight sixes brings Sri Lanka agonizingly close
- New Zealand progress to semi-finals from Group 2 on superior net run rate of 1.390
KANDY: Pakistan’s dramatic five-run victory over Sri Lanka proved bittersweet on Saturday as the margin fell short of the required net run-rate target, handing New Zealand a semi-final berth and condemning the 2009 champions to a heartbreaking exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Despite posting a formidable 212 for 8 at Pallekele International Stadium, Salman Agha’s men needed to restrict the hosts to under 147 runs to overhaul New Zealand’s superior net run rate.
Sri Lanka’s valiant 207 for 6, anchored by a breathtaking knock from captain Dasun Shanaka, dashed Pakistan’s semi-final aspirations in a nerve-wracking contest.
A thrilling finish in Kandy sees Pakistan hold their nerve to wrap up their #T20WorldCup campaign 👊
📝: https://t.co/bgOYgFMMEO pic.twitter.com/yHNU5FFZCG
— ICC (@ICC) February 28, 2026
Farhan, Fakhar power Pakistan to commanding total
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings was built around a record-breaking 176-run opening partnership between Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. Farhan continued his dream tournament, smashing his second ton in the World Cup, a fluent 100 off 60 balls adorned with nine boundaries and five sixes.
Fakhar provided explosive support with 84 from just 42 deliveries, striking nine fours and four sixes before falling to Dushmantha Chameera in the 16th over.
Sahibzada Farhan scored a brilliant hundred to make the difference for Pakistan against Sri Lanka👌
He wins the @aramco POTM🏅
📝: https://t.co/bgOYgFMMEO pic.twitter.com/V91hJpIIyz
— ICC (@ICC) February 28, 2026
The platform, however, gave way to a dramatic middle-order collapse that saw Pakistan lose four wickets for just 23 runs. Khawaja Nafay fell for two, Shadab Khan managed seven before being run out, while Mohammad Nawaz and captain Salman Agha departed for successive ducks off Dasun Shanaka’s bowling. Late cameos from Usman Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi helped Pakistan reach 212 for 8.
Dilshan Madushanka was the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers with three for 33, while Shanaka claimed two crucial wickets.
Semi-final bound 💥
See you soon Kolkata.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/uK8dpT26MW
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 28, 2026
Shanaka’s heroics fall just short
Chasing 213 for victory but effectively needing to keep Pakistan’s winning margin under 64 runs to eliminate them, Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when Pathum Nissanka fell for three. Kamil Mishara (26) and Charith Asalanka (25) kept the scoring rate alive before both fell to Abrar Ahmed’s deceptive bowling.
Pavan Rathnayake anchored the innings with a composed 58 off 37 balls, but it was captain Dasun Shanaka who produced a sensational counter-attack. The Sri Lankan skipper remained unbeaten on 76 from just 31 deliveries, smashing two fours and an astonishing eight sixes to keep his side in contention.
Shanaka’s brutal assault, which included 49 runs from the final 13 balls he faced, brought Sri Lanka within striking distance. However, with 13 required from the final over bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shanaka could only manage seven as Pakistan clinched a five-run victory.
Abrar Ahmed was the standout bowler for Pakistan, claiming three for 23 in his four economical overs.
𝐒𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐳𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐧 🤝 𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧 ➡️ 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐧’𝐬 #𝐓𝟐𝟎𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩!
Watch the milestone stand from Pakistan’s innings against Sri Lanka 👉 https://t.co/2dK9pT6GvS pic.twitter.com/KVuHH4SZYD
— ICC (@ICC) February 28, 2026
New Zealand seal semi-final berth
The result meant New Zealand, with their vastly superior net run rate of 1.390, progressed to the semi-finals from Group 2 despite not playing on Saturday. Pakistan’s winning margin of five runs fell well short of the required 64-run victory target, leaving them to rue what might have been after Farhan and Fakhar’s heroics.
For Sri Lanka, already eliminated before the match, Shanaka’s magnificent unbeaten knock provided a glimpse of pride despite the narrow defeat. The hosts finished their campaign with heads held high after pushing Pakistan to the brink in a contest that swung dramatically till the final delivery.
The semi-final lineup now features New Zealand alongside the other group winners, while Pakistan are left to reflect on another campaign defined by familiar what-ifs and net run-rate calculations.
