T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan defeat Sri Lanka by 5 runs in Super 8 clash

Kandy: In a thrilling Super 8 encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by a narrow margin of 5 runs, yet failed to progress to the semifinals.

After winning the toss, the Sri Lankan captain chose to field first, giving Pakistan the opportunity to bat. Pakistan posted a total of 212/8 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to explosive innings from Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. Farhan scored a brilliant 100, while Zaman contributed 84, combining for a record 176-run partnership. The rest of the batting lineup failed to make a significant contribution, with Khawaja Nafees scoring 2, Shadab Khan 7, and both Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Agha dismissed for ducks.

Farhan’s century marked his second in this T20 World Cup, making him the first player to score two centuries in a single edition of the tournament.

Ahead of this crucial match, Pakistan made three changes to their playing XI: Babar Azam, Saeem Ayub, and Salman Mirza were dropped, while Naseem Shah, Khawaja Nafees, and Abrar Ahmed were included.

Despite Pakistan’s strong total, Sri Lanka managed 207 runs, falling just short of the target. As a result, Pakistan was eliminated from the tournament. New Zealand, with 3 points and a superior net run rate, advanced to the semifinals. England had already secured a semifinal spot from the group, while Sri Lanka was also knocked out.