Pallekele: Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign came to a dramatic yet heartbreaking end on Sunday night. Despite defeating Sri Lanka by five runs in a high-scoring thriller, Pakistan were eliminated from the tournament as New Zealand secured the final semi-final berth from Super Eight Group 2 on the basis of a superior Net Run Rate (NRR).
Pakistan’s fate was sealed during Sri Lanka’s chase itself. Once the hosts crossed 148 runs in pursuit of 213, the required net run rate equation confirmed that even a win would not be enough for the Salman Agha-led side to progress.
Both Pakistan and New Zealand finished with three points, but the Blackcaps advanced due to a better NRR, joining England in the knockout stage.
Farhan’s Historic Century Headlines Pakistan’s Innings
After being invited to bat first at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan posted an imposing 212 for 8 in their 20 overs, thanks largely to a record-breaking opening stand.
Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman stitched together 176 runs — the highest opening partnership in the tournament’s history — putting Sri Lanka under immense pressure early on.
Farhan was the standout performer, smashing a superb 100 off 60 deliveries. With that knock, he became the first player in T20 World Cup history to score two centuries in a single edition of the tournament.
At the other end, Fakhar Zaman played a blistering knock of 84 off just 42 balls, peppering the boundary with clean strikes and maintaining a rapid scoring rate throughout the powerplay and middle overs.
Though Pakistan lost wickets in the final overs, the foundation laid by the openers ensured they crossed the 200-run mark in a must-win encounter.
Shanaka’s Late Blitz Almost Turns It Around
Sri Lanka’s chase began steadily but lost momentum in patches before captain Dasun Shanaka launched a breathtaking counterattack.
Shanaka remained unbeaten on 76 off just 31 balls, producing one of the most explosive innings of the tournament. His knock included a four and three consecutive sixes off Shaheen Afridi in the final over, briefly raising hopes of a miraculous finish.
However, despite his late fireworks, Sri Lanka fell short by five runs, finishing on 207.
Net Run Rate Breaks Pakistan’s Heart
While Pakistan celebrated the narrow victory on the field, the larger equation had already worked against them. To qualify, they needed not just a win but a substantially bigger margin to overtake New Zealand’s net run rate.
Sri Lanka reaching 148 during their chase mathematically ended Pakistan’s semi-final hopes. The narrow five-run victory was not enough to bridge the NRR gap.
As a result, New Zealand claimed the second semi-final spot from Group 2, despite Pakistan finishing level on points.
A Campaign of Highs and Lows
Pakistan’s exit will be particularly painful given the brilliance shown by their top order in this match. Farhan’s historic century and the record opening stand will remain standout moments of the tournament.
However, earlier inconsistencies in the Super Eight stage ultimately proved costly, leaving the team dependent on net run rate calculations in their final game.
For Sri Lanka, Shanaka’s fearless knock provided a thrilling contest, though it came in a losing cause.
What’s Next
With Pakistan eliminated, New Zealand move forward to the semi-finals alongside England from Group 2. The knockout stage now promises high-intensity clashes as the remaining teams battle for a place in the final.
For Pakistan, attention will now shift to introspection and rebuilding after a campaign that ended with both brilliance and heartbreak in equal measure.