Sl Vs Pak: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka but miss out on T20 World Cup semis
In the Super Eights Group 2 match at Pallekele Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five runs, but that victory — in the sl vs pak showdown on February 28 at 7 p. m. local (1: 30 p. m. GMT; 8: 30 a. m. ET) — was not enough to send them into the semi-finals because New Zealand clinched second place on net run-rate.
High score set by Pakistan and Farhan’s century
Pakistan posted 212-8, powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s century. Farhan reached 100 and shared a record-breaking 176-run opening partnership with Fakhar for the first wicket. Farhan’s return in the tournament moved him to a tournament record of 383 runs in a single edition of the men’s T20 World Cup.
Sl Vs Pak: Sri Lanka chase, toss and late drama
Sri Lanka, who entered the game already eliminated from semifinal contention, won the toss and chose to bowl. In the chase they passed 148 but fell short, and Pakistan held on for a five-run win. Shaheen Afridi’s bowling at the death was cited as decisive in the final moments.
Selection changes and the Pakistan campaign so far
For the match Pakistan made three changes: Babar, Ayub and Mirza were dropped for Nafay, Naseem and Abrar. Pakistan’s tournament had mixed results: they began with a nervy three-wicket win over the Netherlands decided in the final over, then beat the United States and Namibia, but suffered a heavy loss to India in Colombo. Their Super Eight schedule had seen a washed-out match with New Zealand in Colombo followed by a defeat to England, and England’s Harry Brook produced a century in Kandy on Tuesday.
Why one win wasn’t enough — the net run-rate equation
Pakistan needed not just a win over Sri Lanka but a substantial margin to overtake New Zealand in the four-team group. The calculations in play required Pakistan to beat Sri Lanka by roughly 65 runs or to chase any target in fewer than 13 overs; both scenarios depended on the first innings total. New Zealand’s result earlier — a defeat by England that opened a window for Pakistan — ultimately left New Zealand on a net run-rate edge, which sealed their place in the last four when Pakistan’s victory fell short.
Captains reflect on toss, dew and missing bowlers
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said losing the toss made the match harder, pointing to dew and a good pitch. He noted Pakistan struggled to execute plans, singled out Usman Tariq as having an off-day despite previous good form, and praised Farhan as the team’s standout batter while calling the middle order a persistent problem. Agha said Pakistan had batted well for 18 overs and that an extra 10–15 runs would have changed the picture; he added that even a target of 160 would have been challenging on the day.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka called it a close finish and thanked the bowling at the death, apologised to fans after a tough campaign and said the team had been weakened by the absence of two key bowlers — a loss he described as significant for Sri Lankan cricket — while expressing hope they would return soon.
What’s next on the Super Eights calendar
The final block of Super 8 matches is scheduled for Sunday at 09: 15 GMT (4: 15 a. m. ET). The first game will be South Africa versus Zimbabwe, followed by a winner-takes-all match between India and West Indies.
