In this crucial Group 2 fixture, Pakistan have begun well with the ball. After posting 212 on the board thanks to Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman and the opening partnership, they have begun well with the ball picking up wickets and keeping themselves interested in the game. The magic number is 147 for Pakistan to restrict the team Sri Lanka for qualification to semis.
Pakistan struck twice to dent Sri Lanka in powerplay.Â
Chasing the target of 213 for the win, Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara came out to bat for Sri Lanka while Shaheen Afridi had ball in hand for Pakistan. Afridi bowled well as Mishara threw his hands at it and got a thick outside edge that flew to the short third man fence. Naseem Shan came onto bowl from the other end. He got rid of Nissanka the big fish for 3 off 7 balls.
Naseem saw Nissanka to the leg side early and bowled a back of the hand slower ball outside the off-stump. Nissanka tried to reach out for it and tried to hit it over the inner circle in the off side but got completely deceived by the change of pace. He mistimed it and Nawaz from covers took the catch. Charith Asalanka came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Afridi continued as Mishara went downtown and pulled it over long-on for the maximum. Mishara then drove the ball through the covers for a boundary. Mishara then drove it nicely past cover point for a boundary. Naseem continued as Mishara got on top of the toes and punched it past wide mid-off for a boundary. Abrar Ahmed came out to bat next and he struck for Pakistan getting rid of Mishara for 26 off 15 balls with 4 fours and one six to his name.
Abrar bowled from around the wicket and bowled it flatter and quicker around the off-stump and Mishara backed away and went for the cut shot and missed as the batter cramped for room and the ball hit the off-stump. 50 T20I wickets for Abrar. Pavan Rathnayake came out to bat next.
Naseem Shah came to bowl the last over of powerplay. Rathnayake picked the length early and pulled it away past wide mid-on for a boundary. Asalanka took on Naseem and pulled it over square leg for the maximum. Sri Lanka reached 49/2 in 6 overs of powerplay with Asalanka unbeaten on 10 off 8 balls while Rathnayake unbeaten on 6 off 6 balls.
Charith Asalanka & Pavan Rathnayake drives Sri Lanka forward before the former falls to Abrar Ahmed.Â
Drinks was taken after which Abrar continued and bowled a decent over. Usman Tariq came into the attack next as he looked to cut it and got an outside edge which was put down a tough catch for the keeper. Asalanka nailed the sweep through deep square leg and deep midwicket for a boundary. Asalanka launched it hard down the ground over the bowler’s head for the maximum. Abrar continued as Asalanka survived a scare in the end.
Rathnayake then swept it in front of square for a boundary to deep forward square leg region. Abrar then came back and dismissed Asalanka for 25 off 18 balls with one four and 2 sixes to his name. Abrar tossed it up around the off-stump with brave bowling from him. Asalanka bent his back leg and went for a slog sweep across the line and threw everything at it and lost his shape. He failed to get his bat down the line as the ball hit the off-stump.
Kamindu Mendis came in and was adjudged LBW but he survived it as there was a big inside edge on it. Tariq came to bowl the 10th over of the innings. Rathnayake swept it away between the legs of the keeper to send it to the fine leg fence for a boundary. Sri Lanka reached 85/3 in 10 overs with Rathnayake was unbeaten on 22 off 17 balls and Kamindu was unbeaten on 2 off 3 balls.
What Lies Ahead.Â
The game is in the balance as we have a game within a game. The Lankans are 85/3 chasing 213 for the win but Pakistan has 147 to play with. Sri Lanka needs to score 148 to knock Pakistan out. This chase as far as qualification goes can go either ways. Pakistan to win, but can they qualify? Find out soon.
Also Read: ICC T20 WC 2026: Sahibzada Farhan’s Superlative Ton Powers Pakistan Past 200.