Pakistan edge Sri Lanka but exit T20 World Cup 2026

KATHMANDU: Pakistan edged Sri Lanka by 5 runs in a thrilling Super 12 encounter in Kandy on Saturday, but the narrow victory was not enough to secure a semi-final spot in the ICC T20 World Cup.

To advance, Pakistan needed to defeat Sri Lanka by at least 65 runs.

Despite their win, New Zealand’s superior net run rate ensured they progressed to the semi-finals, leaving Pakistan eliminated.

Both Pakistan and New Zealand finished with three points each in Group 2, but the net run rate proved decisive.

England had already qualified for the semi-finals, winning all three of their Group 2 matches, while co-host Sri Lanka lost all three games.

However, Dasun Shanaka’s blistering 76* off 31 balls brought Sri Lanka close to their target of 213.

Shanaka struck one boundary and three sixes off Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first four balls of his innings, leaving Pakistan needing six runs off the final two balls to win.

Afridi held his nerve and ensured Pakistan’s victory, but Sri Lanka finished with 7 wickets down at 207, falling short of the semi-final qualification requirement.

Shanaka’s innings included 2 fours and 8 sixes, while Pawan Ratnayake contributed 58 off 37 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes.

Kamal Misara scored 26, and Charith Asalanka added 25 runs. From Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed took 3 wickets for 23 runs in 4 overs, while Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Nawaz claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan became the first player to score two centuries in a single T20 World Cup match.

Batting first after losing the toss, Pakistan posted 212/8, their highest T20 World Cup score, surpassing their previous 201/5 against Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2016.

Farhan and Fakhar Zaman shared a 176-run opening partnership. Zaman scored 84 off 42 balls, including 9 fours and 4 sixes, before being dismissed in the 16th over.

Farhan smashed 100 off just 60 balls, hitting 9 fours and 5 sixes, reaching his century in 59 balls before being dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka, who finished with 3 wickets for 33 runs.

With this innings, Farhan has now accumulated 383 runs in this T20 World Cup, surpassing India’s Virat Kohli, who scored 319 runs in the 2014 edition, to become the highest run-scorer in a single T20 World Cup.