KANDY, Sri Lanka: Pakistan must restrict Sri Lanka to under 147 runs to secure a semi-final berth after posting a formidable 212 in their must-win ICC T20 World Cup clash at Pallekele International Stadium on Saturday.
The arithmetic is brutally simple for Salman Agha’s men: defend the target by at least 64 runs or chase any Sri Lankan total inside 13.1 overs. With the hosts set 213 to win, Pakistan need to bowl them out or restrict them to 146 to overhaul New Zealand’s vastly superior net run rate of 1.390.
Farhan, Fakhar dominate opening stand
Pakistan’s innings was powered by a record-breaking 176-run opening partnership between Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, who tore apart the Sri Lankan bowling attack on a pitch offering early assistance to pace bowlers.
Sahibzada Farhan played the innings of his life, smashing another T20 International century. The right-hander went back to the pavilion on 100 off 60 balls, an innings studded with nine boundaries and five towering sixes. His strike rate of 166.66 kept the scoreboard racing despite wickets tumbling at the other end during the death overs.
Fakhar Zaman provided the perfect foil, bludgeoning 84 runs from merely 42 deliveries at a breathtaking strike rate of 200. The left-hander struck nine fours and four sixes before falling to Dushmantha Chameera in the 16th over with the partnership at 176.
The opening stand, which came in just 15.5 overs, effectively put Pakistan within sight of the daunting net run-rate target they needed to keep semi-final hopes alive.
Middle order collapse amid late flourish
What followed was a dramatic middle-order collapse that saw Pakistan lose four wickets for just 23 runs. Khawaja Nafay fell for two, caught by Charith Asalanka off Dilshan Madushanka. Shadab Khan managed seven before being run out, while Mohammad Nawaz and captain Salman Agha departed for ducks in consecutive deliveries off Dasun Shanaka’s bowling.
Farhan continued his magnificent knock at one end but found little support as Shaheen Shah Afridi fell lbw to Madushanka for four, and Naseem Shah was run out for one. Usman Khan remained not out on eight, while Abrar Ahmed was unbeaten on nought as Pakistan finished at 212 for eight.
Sri Lanka bowling efforts
Dilshan Madushanka was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, claiming three for 33 in his four overs, including the crucial wickets of Farhan and Afridi. Captain Dasun Shanaka provided valuable breakthroughs with two for 42, removing Nawaz and Salman Agha in quick succession. Dushmantha Chameera picked up the key wicket of Fakhar Zaman, finishing with one for 48.
Maheesh Theekshana bowled an economical spell of four overs for 35 runs, while Dunith Wellalage (zero for 37) and Janith Liyanage (zero for 14) proved expensive.
