Shanaka’s Heroic 76 in Vain as Pakistan Clinch Thriller but Exit World Cup

Kandy, Feb 2026 : A breathtaking late assault by Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was not enough to carry his side over the line as Pakistan edged past Sri Lanka by five runs in a pulsating final Super 8s encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Stadium on Saturday.

The dramatic victory, however, proved bittersweet for Pakistan. Despite defending a massive total of 212, they were eliminated from the tournament due to an inferior Net Run Rate, as Sri Lanka’s final score of 207 denied them the margin they desperately needed to leapfrog New Zealand into the semifinals.

Pakistan Post a Commanding Total

Asked to bat first, Pakistan produced one of their most dominant batting displays of the tournament, riding on a magnificent opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. The pair began cautiously, respecting the new ball before accelerating sharply from the third over onward, putting Sri Lanka’s bowlers under sustained pressure.

Farhan, continuing a remarkable run of form, brought up his half-century in just 32 balls. In the process, he surpassed Virat Kohli’s long-standing record for the most runs in a single edition of the T20 World Cup, underlining the scale of his consistency. At the other end, Fakhar Zaman played the perfect foil, mixing timing with brute power.

Fakhar reached his own fifty in only 27 deliveries, peppering the boundary with ease. Sri Lanka finally found a breakthrough in the 16th over when Dushmantha Chameera uprooted Fakhar’s stumps, ending a sparkling 84 off 42 balls that featured nine fours and four sixes.

Pakistan briefly stumbled thereafter, losing Mohammed Nafay and Shadab Khan in quick succession, but Farhan ensured the momentum never dipped. He completed his century in the 19th over, becoming the first batter to score two hundreds in a single T20 World Cup edition. Farhan eventually fell for a superb 100 off 60 balls, as Pakistan closed on an imposing 212 for 8.

Early Trouble for Sri Lanka

Chasing a daunting target, Sri Lanka’s reply got off to a shaky start. Naseem Shah, playing his first match of the tournament, struck early to remove opener Pathum Nissanka for just three runs. Kamil Mishara counterpunched briefly with aggressive strokeplay, including a six and two fours off Shaheen Afridi, but his promising cameo ended when Abrar Ahmed deceived him with a googly.

At 49 for 2 after the powerplay, Sri Lanka needed stability. That came through Charith Asalanka and Pavan Rathnayake, who rebuilt with a measured partnership. However, Pakistan’s spinners tightened the screws, and Abrar Ahmed broke the stand by clean bowling Asalanka. Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage followed soon after, leaving the hosts in a precarious position.

Rathnayake and Shanaka Ignite the Chase

With the asking rate climbing, Rathnayake played a fearless innings, reaching his half-century in just 32 balls. His clean striking briefly shifted momentum, but Pakistan struck again when Shaheen Afridi dismissed him in the 18th over for a brilliant 58 off 37 balls.

That set the stage for Shanaka. The Sri Lankan captain produced one of the finest individual efforts of the tournament, smashing a 23-ball fifty and launching a ferocious assault in the death overs. Needing 28 runs from the final over, Shanaka tore into Shaheen Afridi, striking three sixes and a four to ignite hopes of an improbable finish.

But with six required off the final delivery, Shanaka failed to clear the boundary. Sri Lanka closed on 207 for 6, falling agonisingly short, while Shanaka remained unbeaten on a stunning 76 that featured eight towering sixes and two fours.

A Win That Wasn’t Enough

Pakistan celebrated a thrilling five-run win, but the joy was short-lived as confirmation arrived that their Net Run Rate was still insufficient for semifinal qualification. Sri Lanka, though eliminated earlier, ended their campaign on a spirited note, having played the role of spoilers with pride.

Brief Scores:
Pakistan 212/8 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 100, Fakhar Zaman 84; Dilshan Madushanka 3-33) beat Sri Lanka 207/6 in 20 overs (Dasun Shanaka 76*, Pavan Rathnayake 58; Abrar Ahmed 3-23) by 5 runs.