Pakistan was on the point of reaching the semifinals, till it was not. In defeating Sri Lanka by 5 runs of their Tremendous Eight match on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium on Saturday, it received the battle however misplaced the warfare and was knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Regardless of posting 212 within the first innings, Pakistan had solely 147 to defend and undergo. It had the competition by the scruff after Naseem Shah’s cutter induced Pathum Nissanka’s slice to covers.
Kamil Mishara made up for the gradual begin with a crisp hit off Shaheen Afridi to clear covers. He complemented it with one other two boundaries by the identical area in the identical over.
Abrar Ahmed (three for 23) got here in as instantaneous reinforcement and flattened Mishara’s off-stump together with his leg-break.
But it surely was Charith Asalanka and Pavan Rathnayake’s 42 runs that actually knocked the wind out of Pakistan’s sails.
Asalanka went after the vaunted thriller spin of Usman Tariq and slog-swept him for a 4 earlier than lofting into the sight display for a six. Within the earlier over, he had latched onto a slower ball from Naseem for a pull by sq. leg.
Even with three sixes off the ultimate over, Shanaka might get Sri Lanka solely to 207, however for the packed Pallekele Stadium, it was sufficient for a remaining hoorah.
| Picture Credit score:
AP
Even with three sixes off the ultimate over, Shanaka might get Sri Lanka solely to 207, however for the packed Pallekele Stadium, it was sufficient for a remaining hoorah.
| Picture Credit score:
AP
A 3rd shot by the on-side proved deadly as Abrar’s supply crept beneath his swipe and castled him. Although Abrar removed Kamindu Mendis in his subsequent over, Rathnayake’s (58, 37b, 4×4, 3×6) dominant sweep remained a nagging impediment for Pakistan.
He used the shot as soon as in opposition to Abrar and twice in opposition to Shadab Khan, clearing the deep midwicket fence on all three events. With Dasun Shanaka (76 n.o., 31b, 2×4, 8×6) becoming a member of Rathnayake within the free-spirited hitting, Sri Lanka denied Pakistan the qualification and rubbed salt to its wounds with the 66-run sixth-wicket partnership.
Even with three sixes off the ultimate over, Shanaka might get Sri Lanka solely to 207, however for the packed Pallekele Stadium, it was sufficient for a remaining hoorah.
Semifinals had been actually in sight for Pakistan on the mid-innings break after Sahibzada Farhan (100, 60b, 9×4, 5×6) and Fakhar Zaman (84, 42b, 9×4, 4×6) despatched Sri Lanka on a leather-based hunt.
A tweak within the opening salvo, getting Zaman rather than Saim Ayub, cleared the top-order rut and the pair cast a 176-run stand for the primary wicket.
The urgency to pile on an enormous complete was evident Zaman’s heave by midwicket off simply his second ball. Sahibzada Farhan channelled his off-side vary, beginning with a punch by backward level off Dushmantha Chameera.
He adopted it up by including one other 10 with lofts over covers and mid-off in opposition to Dilshan Madushanka. Zaman used his ft to smother Maheesh Theekshana over lengthy off.
PAKISTAN vs SRI LANKA HIGHLIGHTS
Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage briefly arrested the tempo however Pakistan promptly fired again. Zaman sliced Dasun Shanaka previous level within the ninth over, one the place Farhan introduced up his 32-ball fifty, his fourth of the event, having already scaled Virat Kohli’s report haul of 319 runs from the 2014 version earlier within the innings.
Sri Lanka was responsible of letting them free too. Within the eleventh over, Zaman slashed exhausting outdoors off in opposition to Theekshana and edged to the keeper just for the house staff to attraction half-heartedly after which not go for a referral. 4 overs later, Wellalage shelled a regulation catch at long-off that got here from Farhan’s fluffed hit.
Between the 2 cases, the pair added 56 runs and regarded on target to take the whole past Sri Lanka’s attain.
Nonetheless, a slew of wickets that commenced with Zaman chopping onto his stumps off Madushanka saved Sri Lanka from getting buried below a mammoth complete.
Farhan picked two boundaries, a whip by midwicket and a drill large of mid-off, to finish his 59-ball century.
However he might solely add 11 runs after the departure of his companion and chipped to further covers in opposition to Shanaka. Sandwiched between the openers’ wickets had been 4 singles digit scores that additional pegged the innings again.
Printed on Feb 28, 2026