PAK Win By 5 Runs | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Match: Pakistan Eliminated Despite Winning Match

Pakistan won the match, but cannot celebrate as they have been eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2026. Abrar Ahmed claimed three wickets to keep Pakistan in the hunt for a semi-final spot in a bid to restrict Sri Lanka under 147, but Pavan Rathanayake and Dasun Shanaka played out of their skins, taking the contest till the last over. 

FIFTY! Pavan Rathanayake is holding the innings together for Sri Lanka. Rathanayake reached his fifty in 32 balls, which included 4 fours and 3 sixes. 

Pakistan are picking wickets at regular intervals, while Sri Lanka continues to gift wickets. Abrar Ahmed finished an awesome spell, picking three wickets in four overs. 

This is a solid partnership brewing between Charith Asalanka and Pavan Rathanayake, who have controlled the flow of runs for Sri Lanka. Both are showcasing confidence against pace and spin, which is a worry for Pakistan. 

OUT! Pakistan introduces spin, and Abrar Ahmed produces a wicket on the first delivery. Mishara backed away for a cut, but was too late into the shot. 

OUT! An absolutely horrible shot from Pathum Nissanka, and Naseem Shah gets an early breakthrough for Pakistan. Nissanka backed away before the ball was delivered, and Shah smartly bowled it away and slow from the batter, who scooped a simple catch to extra cover. 

Pakistan have to restrict Sri Lanka to under 147 or less and win by a margin of 65 runs to qualify for the semi-finals, apart from winning the match. A loss will eliminate Pakistan from the T20 World Cup 2026, regardless of net run-rate. Sri Lanka are facing an uphill task, given their poor batting in earlier Super 8 matches. 

A massive collapse in the final few overs sees Pakistan score below 220, despite at one point staring at a score near 250, with Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman going all guns blazing. 

100! A crucial match for Pakistan, and Sahibzada Farhan whips out a sensational hundred. Farhan reached his second T20I ton in 59 balls, which included nine fours and five sixes.

OUT! Finally, Sri Lanka managed to take a wicket, and Fakhar Zaman missed out on a hundred. Zaman moved too much in the crease and failed to hit a fuller ball, eventually getting his stumps rattled for a 42-ball 84. 

This is Pakistan's highest-ever opening and all-wicket partnership in the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka have been completely clueless in the middle, and social media is abuzz with claims of fixing by the co-hosts. Both Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman are nearing centuries. 

FIFTY! Fakhar Zaman reaches a half-century, and that too in 27 balls. Zaman's maiden fifty in this competition, which included seven fours and one six. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have given up on the contest in Pallekele with zero intent seen in the middle. 

FIFTY! Sahibzada Farhan brings up his half-century, and that too in quick time, taking 32 balls to reach the milestone. Farhan's innings include six fours and two sixes, and has completely derailed Sri Lankan bowlers. 

Sahibzada Farhan is nearing his third fifty in the T20 World Cup 2026 and has been the aggressor thus far. This has been a tournament where Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan has had a breakthrough. Farhan not only becomes Pakistan's leading run-getter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup but also surpasses Virat Kohli's record of 319 runs. 

Clearly, the Sri Lankan bowlers have no clue in the middle and are just bowling fuller balls, despite them being easy picking for the batters. Sahibzada Farhan is making merry and becomes Pakistan's leading run-getter in single edition of T20 WC, breaking Babar Azam's record. 

Just the start, Pakistan, a little slower, but brisk nonetheless. Sahibzada Farhan is making use of his form and belting bowlers for fours and six scoring 14 out of 19 boundaries. Fakhar Zaman, too, will have to come to the party, if Pakistan want to make the powerplay count. 

Pakistan have made tactical changes, and thus aggressive batters Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan are opening the innings. Babar Azam and Saim Ayub have been dropped, who have been out of form. Both openers will look for a brisk start. 

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara(w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

Pakistan have dropped Babar Azam, which is more of a forced change, given the demands of the contest.               PAK XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

TOSS! Sri Lanka win the toss, and Dasun Shanaka opts to field first.