Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup 2026 LIVE Score: Pakistan win by five runs, but lose out on a semifinal spot

BANGGGG!!! Shaheen Shah Afridi comes to bowl the final over. Dasun Shanaka smashes the first ball for a four and then follows it up with three big sixes. 22 runs from the first four balls. Sri Lanka need 6 runs off 2 balls. Dot balls in the final two deliveries as Pakistan edge out Sri Lanka by five runs.

Fifty for Dasun Shanaka with a six off Shadab Khan in just 25 deliveries. The skipper has kept Sri Lanka alive in the game. Sri Lanka need 28 runs in the final over to win the game. SL 185/6 (19)

Sri Lanka have have crossed the magical score of 147. Pakistan are officially out of the semifinal race. New Zealand join England from group 2 in the last four stage. SL 150-5 (16)

Fifty for Pavan Rathnayake in style as the Sri Lankan smashes Shadab Khan for two sixes. Whether Sri Lanka are winning or not, that time will tell, but those two sixes are surely sending Pakistan towards a Super 8 exit. SL 135/5 (15)

Sri Lanka are in no mood to let this match go without a fight. First, Dasun Shanaka hits a six of Mohammad Nawaz, before Pavan Rathnayake finishes off the over with a four to deep extra cover. The over has turned the game into Sri Lanka favour as the hosts need just 28 runs to send Pakistan home. SL 120-5 (14)

OUTTT!!! This is becoming one of a humdinger. Janith Liyanage, who came just now, misses a straight ball and is cleaned up by Mohammad Nawaz. Sri Lanka lose their fifth as they need 47 more runs to knock Pakistan out of semis race. SL 101/5 (12)

OUTTT!!! Abrar Ahmed strikes again. The slowness of the ball does the trick as Kamindu Mendis completely misses the line of the ball while trying to pull. Abrar finishes his spell with 3/23 in his four overs. Sri Lanka need 53 more runs to throw Pakistan out.

SL 94/4 (11)

DROPPEDDD!! Khawaja Nafay drops Charith Asalanka at cover. Even the Nafay had ample time to run out Pavan Rathnayake but he throws it wide. Salman Agha is furious at Nafay. OUTTT!!! Abrar Ahmed strikes again. Asalanka goes for a sweep, but completely misses the line to see his stumps shattered. SL 75/3 (9)

Usman Tariq comes into bowl with an attempt to stop the run flow and take wickets. But Charith Asalanka has other plans as the former captain smashes the spinner for a four and a huge six. Sri Lanka need less than 80 runs to throw Pakistan out. SL 69-2 (8)

Pavan Rathnayake starts final over of the powerplay with a four off Naseem Shah before Charith Asalanka finishes off with a huge six. Asalanka was struggling initially but suddenly pulled a shot to send the ball soaring over deep backward square leg. SL 49/2 (6)

Abrar Ahmed strikes straightaway as Kamil Mishara is cleaned up. The Sri Lankan makes some room to play a late cut, but see his off-stump shattered. Mishara walks back for 26. It was 50th international wicket for Abrar SL 33/2 (4.1)

Kamil Mishara gets on the charge. The left-hander smashes Shaheen Shah Afridi for six, four, four to take 15 runs from the over. Certainly, 147 is in everyone's mind. SL 25/1 (3)

OUTTTT!!! Naseem Shah strikes in his first over. Pathum Nissanka backs away and just hung his bat in a hope to try to clear the infield. But Mohammad Nawaz was at the right place to take a simple catch. Jubiliation for the whole Pakistan team. SL 10/1 (2)

That's it. Pakistan finally ended their innings at 212/8. However, the Men in Green will need to stop Sri Lanka within 147 runs to qualify for the semifinals on the basis of NRR.

HUNDRED by Sahibzada Farhan, his second in the tournament. In the process, Farhan became the second batter after Chris Gayle to score two hundreds in the tournament. With one against Namibia earlier in the tournament, Farhan became the first to score two tons in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have lost fourwickets since then - Mohammad Nawaz, Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Ali Agha to allow Sri Lanka bounce back. Farhan walks back for 100. PAK 207-7 (19.3)

OUTTTT!!! Two wickets in two overs for Sri Lanka. Khawaja Nafay tries to slog it away, but holes out to Charith Asalanka. Dilshan Madushanka gets his first of the night. Dasun Shanaka claps in celebration. Shadab Khan comes out. PAK 184/2 (17)

Nothing is working for Sri Lanka, everything is working for Pakistan. It's raining boundaries here in Pallekele as both Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman are smashing fours and sixes with utter disdain. OUTTTT!!! Finally a wicket for Sri Lanka and Dushmantha Chameera. Trying to smash another, Zaman walked across but got a inside edge on to his stumps. Zaman goes for 84 off 42 balls.

PAK 176-1 (15.5)

Janith Liyanage comes in to bowl for the first time in this T20 World Cup. Fakhar Zaman welcomes him with a four and a six, both towards the fine leg. Lasith Malinga, who is a part of the support staff of the Sri Lankan team is out outside on the boundary lines to share a few plans with his players.

PAK 150/0 (14)

There is a no stopping Pakistan openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman as they go high ball by ball. Fifty for Fakhar Zaman too, in style with a four of Dunith Wellalage. A flat six to follow for Zaman. While Zaman is batting at 57, Sahibzada Farhan is unbeaten on 65. PAK 125-0 (12)

Fifty for Sahibzada Farhan, his fourth in this T20 World Cup. While Farhan held on to one fort, Fakhar Zaman is playing the supporting role at the other end. PAK 90/0 (9)

The carnage continues. Sahibzada Farhan welcomes Dushmantha Chameera with a six off the first ball, by clearing his front leg. He followed it up with another four through the gap between mid-off and extra cover. There is no stopping for Farhan. In the process, Farhan goes past babar Azam for most runs in a T20 Word Cup by a Pakistani batter.

PAK 51/0 (5)

Brilliant over for Pakistan as Sri Lanka bring in spinner Maheesh Theekshana inside the powerplay. After Sahibzada Farhan cut off the back foot through the cover for a four, Fakhar Zaman smokes for a 94-m six over long-off. That's a positive start from Pakistan.

PAK 38-0 (4)

This is a positive approach by Pakistan openers. After just a single boundary Sahibzada Farhan in the previous over, the right-hander launched an attack on Dilshan Madushanka in the third over with a six and a four. meanwhile, the TV cameras can't leave out Babar Azam, zooming on the former skipper on the bench. “Big decision to drop Babar Azam”, says Wasim Akram on live commentary.

PAK 26-0 (3)

Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman have walked out for Pakistan. Dilshan Madushanka will open the attack for Sri Lanka. Zaman starts with a four in the first over. PAK 7/0 (1)

Time for National Anthems as players of both sides walk out into the middle along with the match officials. Pakistan will go first, followed by Sri Lanka.

Salman Agha: Massive opportunity. We need to bat well, bowl well and field well and everything will be fine. We need to put up a good total and try and restrict them. Sometimes it can be tough and sometimes it can be easy, it's a mixed feeling knowing what we need to do. We got three changes.

Dasun Shanaka: We gonna bowl first. It is a good pitch and later on there might be dew as well. We got some good players in our lineup and of course, we need to do our basics right. So yeah, we didn’t do the basics well enough to pull out a win in the last two games. But here, we know we need to make it right in all three departments. They (the fans) still always love us regardless of whether we win or lose, so it’s good motivation, I think. Thank you very much for all the fans here. So yeah, we are looking forward to the game. Two changes. Kamil Mishara comes in for Kusal Mendis, he pulled out with the injury, and Dushan Hemantha out, Janith (Liyanage) comes in.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara(w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

It's time for the toss in Pallekele. Dasun Shanaka and Salman Ali Agha are in the middle for the coin toss. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka opted to bowl first. That means Pakistan will need to chase their target in 12.4 overs to qualify for the semifinals. Sri Lanka have made two changes - Kamil Mishara came in for Kusal Mendis while Dusan Hemantha make way for Janith Liyanage. Pakistan have also made three changes with Babar Azam, Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza have been left out.

We are minutes away from the toss. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf are bowling on the side wicket. Babar Azam is also walking around. Will Pakistan tinker with the playing XI?

Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has bluntly predicted that Pakistan fulfil the required NRR needs to qualify for the semifinals. “It won't happen, that's what I was saying. It is not that easy for Pakistan. The prayers might have been accepted for the England-New Zealand match. But the prayers won't work for Pakistan in the game against Sri Lanka. They have been praying for so long, and it has not worked. So I don't think this is possible. If they somehow qualify, very good. If they score 160 and then win by 60 runs, Sri Lanka would have to play some poor cricket. They would need to be bowled out for 90, which is not possible. Chasing the total down in 13.2 overs is possible, but their batting is not like that. Pakistan are anyway not able to score 160, how will they chase the total down in 14 overs? It will be tough,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan has been the most consistent batter, scoring 283 runs, including a hundred and two fifties. Apart from Farhan, no other batter has really flourished in the tournament with the likes of star players Babar Azam (91 runs) and Salman Ali Agha (44 runs) struggling to find form.

Scenario 1: If Pakistan bat first, Salman Agha's side need to win by 65 runs or more.

Scenario 2: In case Pakistan are chasing a total, the Men in Green need to win the match within 12.4 overs.

Scenario 3: In case there is a rain washout in Pallekele, both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will share a point each. It won't be enough for Pakistan as they would not be able to surpass New Zealand's three points.

A win for New Zealand against England would have settled the score yesterday itself. But with England snatching a win from the jaws of New Zealand, it has further complicated things. At present, New Zealand are placed second with three points. If Pakistan win today, they will be level on three points. In that case, NRR will come into play. But Pakistan can still make it to the semifinals if they meet certain requirements. Here's a detailed report.

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq.

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dushan Hemantha, Kamindu Mendis, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage.

In T20Is, Pakistan enjoy a 17-12 head-to-head advantage over Sri Lanka. In the T20 World Cups, however, Sri Lanka have not left an inch for Pakistan, winning two and losing two and will be facing each other after 14 years at this tournament. In T20 World Cups, Pakistan first met Sri Lanka in the 2007 edition before meeting twice in the 2009 (including the final). Their last meeting at the global stage in the shortest format came in 2012.

For Pakistan, this is the second time they are facing such situation in this T20 World Cup. After losing to India, Pakistan were on the brink of a group stage exit until they won big against Namibia. In the Super 8 stage, Pakistan were greeted with a rain washout against New Zealand while they lost to England, thanks to Harry Brook's injury. Today, Pakistan need not only win but also by a certain margin to book a semifinal spot.

For Sri Lanka, the tournament is over after they lost both of their Super 8 games. For a team, that won the first three games to qualify for the Super 8 stage, its a stark contrast to how they have fallen down in their last two games. Not only the Lankans play for pride today, but a finish with a win would also dask Pakistan hopes.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the final Group 2 encounter in Super 8 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele.