Victory in vain as Pakistan out of T20 World Cup, New Zealand seal semi-final spot

KANDY (Agencies): Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign came to an end despite a five-run win against Sri Lanka, as they failed to restrict the co-hosts by the required 65-run margin in their final Super 8 clash at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. After posting 212-8, Pakistan not only needed to win but also had to limit Sri Lanka to 147 or fewer to qualify on net run rate and move ahead of New Zealand. At one stage, Pakistan appeared to be on course as Sri Lanka were reduced to 101-5. However, Pavan Rathnayeke and Dasun Shanaka wrested back control with a match-defining partnership, effectively ending the Green Shirts’ hopes of advancing in the tournament. Shanaka and Rathnayake put together a 61-run partnership off just 39 deliveries, but the stand was broken when Rathnayake departed after scoring 58 off 37 balls, including four fours and three sixes.

At that stage, the match appeared one-sided, with Sri Lanka needing 51 runs to win off the remaining 1155 balls — but Shanaka had other plans. The Sri Lankan captain single-handedly attacked the Pakistani bowlers, scoring 18 off the Sahdab over and shifting the momentum in his team’s favour. In the final over, Sri Lanka required 28 runs to win. Shanaka, who had already reached his fifty, struck 22 runs off the first four balls, bringing his side close to victory in a tightly contested match. However, just as Sri Lanka looked set for a dramatic win, Shaheen Afridi returned to bowl two dot deliveries, helping Pakistan secure victory by five runs. Shanaka’s innings had turned the match on its head: he scored 76 off 31 balls, hitting eight towering sixes and two boundaries. Sahibzada Farhan was named man of the match for his match-winning century.

Earlier, after losing the toss and being asked to bat first, openers Farhan and Fakhar Zaman put on a scintillating partnership that helped Pakistan post 213 In a thrilling contest, Farhan once again proved his class, scoring a brilliant 100 off 60 balls, guiding Pakistan to a competitive total of 212/8 in 20 overs against Sri Lanka. Farhan’s innings, studded with 9 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 166.66. Zaman provided solid support at the top, smashing 84 off 42 balls with 9 fours and 4 sixes, maintaining an astonishing strike rate of 200.00. However, the middle order struggled to build partnerships, with Khawaja Nafay contributing only 2 runs, and both Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Agha dismissed without scoring. Shadab Khan added a quickfire 7 off 5 balls, and Usman Khan remained unbeaten on 8, keeping the innings moving toward a challenging total. Late contributions from Shaheen Shah Afridi (4) and Naseem Shah (1) helped push the score past 210.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 212 for 8 (Farhan 100, Fakhar 84, Madushanka 3-33) beat Sri Lanka 207 for 6 (Shanaka 76 not out, Rathnayake 58, Abrar 3-23) by five runs.