In the tight battle, Pakistan have been eliminated from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, as New Zealand have advanced to the Semi-finals for having a better net run rate than Pakistan in Group 2 of the Super Eights. In the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan match, Pakistan won by five runs, which was only enough to equal the Blackcaps' points, but they finished very far in net run rate, as the Men in Green had to win by 65 runs.
After Sri Lanka won the toss in the last Group 2 fixture at Pallekele on Saturday night (28 February), they chose to bowl first. With the help of a brilliant 176-run opening partnership between the openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, as Sahibzada Farhan scored 100 off 60 balls (nine fours and five sixes) and Fakhar scored 84 off 42 balls (nine fours and four sixes), Pakistan managed to score 212/8 in 20 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka finished with the score of 207/6 in 20 overs. In the final over, the hosts needed 28 runs, as the Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka closed the gap with four, six, six, and six in the first four balls to make the target six in the last two balls. However, Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Afridi delivered dots in the final two balls to secure a five-run win. While Shanaka scored 76 not out off 31 balls with two fours and eight sixes, Pavan Rathnayake earlier scored 58 off 37 balls with four fours and three sixes.
Highest T20 World Cup partnership
Pakistan openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman set a 176-run partnership for the first wicket.
It is the highest partnership for any wicket in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The previous record was a 175-run partnership for the unbroken opening wicket between New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Alenn against the United Arab Emirates during the group stage of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2006.
It was the third-highest partnership for any wicket for Pakistan. Their top two records are a 203-run partnership for the unbroken first wicket between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan (vs England at Karachi in 2022) and a 197-run opening partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan (vs South Africa at Centurion in 2021).
Sahibzada Farhan created histories
Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan scored 100 off 60 balls.
Sahibzada Farhan recorded his second century in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, both in the ongoing 2026 edition. After the former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle, Sahibzada became the second batter to record two centuries in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Sahibzada Farhan became the first batter to record multiple centuries in an edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Pakistan cricketer Sahibzada Farhan scored 383 runs in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Sahibzada Farhan set a new record for the most runs in an edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by breaking Indian legend Virat Kohli’s record of 319 runs in the 2014 edition.
Pakistan's record T20 World Cup total
Pakistan scored 212/8 in 20 overs.
It was Pakistan’s highest total in their history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Their previous record was 201/5 against Bangladesh at Kolkata in the 2016 edition.
It was Pakistan’s second-highest T20I total. Their record T20I total is 232/6 vs England at Nottingham in 2021.
Sri Lanka scored 3rd highest second innings total in T20 World Cup
Sri Lanka replied with 207/6 in 20 overs.
It was the third-highest second innings total in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The top two records are 230/8 by England (vs South Africa in 2016) and 208/2 by South Africa (vs West Indies in 2007).
