Bittersweet Victory: Pakistan edge Sri Lanka in Pallekele thriller but crash out of T20 World Cup
Bittersweet Victory: Pakistan edge Sri Lanka in Pallekele thriller but crash out of T20 World Cup
By Nawaz Gohar ; Former champions Pakistan concluded their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a bittersweet note, securing a narrow five-run victory over co-hosts Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. However, despite the win, Pakistan failed to meet the required Net Run Rate (NRR) threshold, resulting in their elimination from the tournament.
The 2009 champions entered the contest with a steep mathematical challenge: they needed to defeat Sri Lanka and restrict them to 147 runs or fewer to leapfrog New Zealand in the standings. While the Men in Green secured the points, a resilient batting display from Sri Lanka ensured that New Zealand joined England as the two qualifying teams from Group 2.
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Pakistan posted a formidable 212/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was defined by a monumental 176-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman.
The duo dismantled the Sri Lankan attack, with Fakhar Zaman smashing a blistering 84 off just 42 deliveries, including nine boundaries and four towering sixes.
The partnership was eventually broken by Dushmantha Chameera, who cleaned up Fakhar in the 16th over. Despite a middle-order wobble that saw Khawaja Nafay (2), Shadab Khan (7), and captain Salman Ali Agha (0) fall in quick succession, Farhan remained the anchor.
He etched his name into the history books with a magnificent 100 off 60 balls, featuring nine fours and five sixes, before falling to Dilshan Madushanka in the final over. Madushanka was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, returning figures of 3/33.
Chasing 213 for victory—but effectively fighting to keep Pakistan under the 147-run mark—Sri Lanka faced early trouble against the spin of Abrar Ahmed, who finished with impressive figures of 3/23.
However, the qualification door slammed shut for Pakistan when Sri Lanka surpassed the 147-run milestone. Pavan Rathnayake played a measured 58 off 37 balls to stabilize the innings,
but it was captain Dasun Shanaka who stole the show. Shanaka played a captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 76 off just 31 deliveries, a whirlwind innings that included a late assault on Pakistan’s pace spearhead, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Entering the final over, Sri Lanka required an improbable 28 runs. Despite being under immense pressure and conceding three sixes to a rampant Shanaka, Shaheen Shah Afridi managed to hold his nerve to defend the total, as Sri Lanka finished on 207/6.
The victory leaves Pakistan in third place in Group 2. Both Pakistan and New Zealand finished with three points from three games, but New Zealand’s superior Net Run Rate of +1.390 compared to Pakistan’s -0.123 secured the Blackcaps a spot in the semifinals.
While the “Men in Green” exit the tournament with a win, the campaign will be remembered for the record-breaking opening partnership and Sahibzada Farhan’s individual brilliance, shadowed by the inconsistency in the earlier stages of the Super Eight round.
