Pakistan ended their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on a high with a thrilling 5-run win over co-hosts Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 encounter played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Having won the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bowl first, but the decision did not yield the desired results as the Pakistan openers produced a dominant batting display to power their side to a massive 212 for 8 in 20 overs.
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Sahibzada Farhan led the charge with a superb century, scoring 100 runs off 60 deliveries, striking 9 fours and 5 sixes in a commanding knock. His opening partner Fakhar Zaman provided the perfect support with an equally aggressive innings of 84 off just 42 balls, which included 9 boundaries and 4 sixes, as the duo tore into the Sri Lankan bowling attack and laid a formidable platform.
Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka stood out with an impressive spell, picking up 3 wickets for 33 runs in his four overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka mounted a spirited chase and came agonizingly close to pulling off a memorable win. The middle order batter Pavan Rathnayake played a fighting innings of 58 runs off 37 balls, hitting 4 fours and 3 sixes to keep the hosts in the hunt.
The game took a dramatic turn in the final over when Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka almost scripted the impossible. With 28 runs required off the last six balls, Shanaka launched a stunning assault, smashing three consecutive sixes to reduce the equation to 6 runs off the final two deliveries and bring the packed Pallekele crowd to its feet.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, however, held his nerve at the death. Switching to over the wicket, he delivered a low full toss outside off which Shanaka attempted to scoop but failed to connect. Afridi then produced a pinpoint yorker on the tramline off the final ball to seal the victory for Pakistan and deny Sri Lanka what would have been one of the most remarkable T20I chases.
Shanaka remained unbeaten on a breathtaking 76 off 31 balls, smashing 2 fours and 8 sixes at a staggering strike rate of 245.16, carrying Sri Lanka’s hopes until the very last delivery.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahibzada Farhan | c Janith Liyanage b Dilshan Madusanka | 100 | 57 | 9 | 5 | 175.44 |
| Fakhar Zaman | b Dushmantha Chameera | 84 | 42 | 9 | 4 | 200.00 |
| Khawaja Nafay | c Charith Asalanka b Dilshan Madusanka | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Shadab Khan | run out (Dilshan Madusanka) | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 350.00 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | c Maheesh Theekshana b Dasun Shanaka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Agha Salman | c Maheesh Theekshana b Dasun Shanaka | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Junaid Khan | not out | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | lbw b Dilshan Madusanka | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Naseem Shah | run out (Kusal Mendis) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Abrar Ahmed | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 6 (b 0 , lb 3 , nb 0, w 3, pen 0) |
| Total | 212/8 (20 Overs, RR: 10.6) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madusanka | 4 | 0 | 33 | 3 | 8.25 | |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 12.00 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 8.75 | |
| Dasun Shanaka | 4 | 0 | 42 | 2 | 10.50 | |
| Dunith Wellalage | 3 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 12.33 | |
| Janith Liyanage | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Mohammad Nawaz b Naseem Shah | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Kamil Mishara | b Abrar Ahmed | 26 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 173.33 |
| Charith Asalanka | b Abrar Ahmed | 25 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 138.89 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | c Saim Ayub b Shaheen Shah Afridi | 58 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 156.76 |
| Kamindu Mendis | b Abrar Ahmed | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Janith Liyanage | b Mohammad Nawaz | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166.67 |
| Dasun Shanaka | not out | 76 | 31 | 2 | 8 | 245.16 |
| Dunith Wellalage | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Extras | 9 (b 0 , lb 3 , nb 0, w 6, pen 0) |
| Total | 207/6 (19 Overs, RR: 10.89) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 12.00 | |
| Naseem Shah | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 | |
| Abrar Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 5.75 | |
| Usman Tariq | 4 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 5.75 | |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 2 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 10.50 | |
| Shadab Khan | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 16.50 | |
