Farhan’s Century Powers Pakistan to Thriller Win Over Sri Lanka, But Semi-Final Dream Ends

Pakistan signed off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a dramatic five-run victory over Sri Lanka in Pallekele, but the result was not enough to secure a place in the semi-finals. Despite posting a formidable total and surviving a late scare, Pakistan fell short on net run rate as New Zealand progressed from Group 2 alongside England and South Africa.

Farhan and Fakhar Set the Platform

After being asked to bat first, Pakistan required a commanding margin to keep their qualification hopes alive. The opening pair of Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman responded with a fearless approach, dominating the powerplay and maintaining momentum through the middle overs.

The duo stitched together a 176-run opening partnership, rewriting records in the process. Farhan was composed yet aggressive, reaching his second century of the tournament in 59 deliveries. His knock not only anchored the innings but also established him as one of the standout batters of the competition. Fakhar matched that intent with a fluent 84 off 42 balls, keeping the scoring rate high with crisp strokeplay on both sides of the wicket.

At one stage, Pakistan appeared set to breach the 220-mark. However, a flurry of wickets in the closing overs slowed their progress, as Sri Lanka’s bowlers fought back effectively to limit the total to 212.

Early Strikes Keep Pakistan in the Contest

Defending a sizeable target, Pakistan made early inroads. Naseem Shah struck in his first appearance of the tournament, while Abrar Ahmed’s control through the middle overs applied pressure on the Sri Lankan line-up. At 101 for 5, the chase seemed firmly tilted in Pakistan’s favour.

Shanaka Leads Sri Lanka’s Late Charge

Sri Lanka refused to retreat. Pavan Rathnayake compiled a brisk half-century before Dasun Shanaka launched a counterattack that nearly transformed the contest. Shanaka’s unbeaten 76 from just 31 deliveries featured clean hitting and calculated risks, especially in the final overs.

With 28 required from the last over, Shanaka struck three successive sixes to bring the equation down dramatically. The match went down to the final ball, but Pakistan held their nerve to seal a narrow win.

A Victory Without Reward

While Pakistan celebrated the result, their campaign concluded with disappointment. The earlier equations meant a larger winning margin was essential to advance. The five-run difference proved insufficient, allowing New Zealand to claim the remaining semi-final berth.

Pakistan depart the tournament with pride in their final performance, highlighted by Farhan’s record-breaking century and Fakhar’s attacking display, yet aware of how fine margins shaped their journey.