Pakistan registered a thrilling five-run victory over Sri Lanka in their last Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (February 28). However, the win wasn’t enough for the Men in Green to qualify for semifinals.
The equation to make the semis was a daunting one for Pakistan. The Salman Ali Agha-led side needed to win by either more than 64 runs or chase down target in less than 14 overs to overtake New Zealand’s Net Run Rate and qualify for the final-four stage.
Invited to bat first, Pakistan posted a formidable 212/8 in 20 overs, thanks to Sahibzada Farhan’s century (100 off 60 balls) and Fakhar Zaman’s 42-ball 84.
As soon as Sri Lanka reached 148 in the chase, they knocked Pakistan out of the semifinals race. While the 2009 champions went on to win the game by five runs and tied on 3 points with New Zealand but remained below the Blackcaps on Net Run Rate.
During the chase, Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka played a blinder – 76* off 31 balls - which included a four and a hat-trick of sixes off Shaheen Afridi in the final over, but he failed to take his side home. Shaheen held his nerves in the last two balls to restrict the tournament co-hosts to 207/6 in 20 overs.
Here’s how the cricket fraternity reacted after Sri Lanka nearly pulled off a monumental chase against Pakistan.
Here are the reactions:
