Pallekale: Dasun Shanaka’s stunning onslaught couldn’t avert a narrow five-run defeat for Sri Lanka but knocked Pakistan out of the T20 World Cup, as New Zealand joined table toppers England from Group 2 in the semifinals here on Saturday.
With 28 needed off the final over, the Sri Lankan skipper clobbered Shaheen Shah Afridi (1/48) for three consecutive sixes and a four to bring it down to six from the final ball. But Shanaka left the final delivery alone thinking it would be called a wide, which the on-field umpire did not give.
Shanaka hit a total of eight sixes and two fours to make 76 not out off only 31 balls, as Sri Lanka finished at 206/7 in reply to Pakistan’s 212/8, who needed to keep the island nation under 147 to surpass New Zealand (1.390) on net run rate to make the final four.
Shanaka’s explosive innings featured eight sixes and two fours, scoring an unbeaten 76 off just 31 balls. Sri Lanka ended at 206/7, chasing Pakistan’s 212/8. Pakistan had to restrict Sri Lanka to below 147 runs to surpass New Zealand’s net run rate of 1.390 and reach the semifinals.
Despite Sahibzada Farhan’s (100) second century of the tournament and his record 176-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman (84) — the highest for any wicket in T20 World Cup history — Pakistan faltered due to a late collapse, losing eight wickets for 36 runs in the last four overs.
Pakistan’s innings crumbled from 176/0 in the 16th over to 212/8, with Sri Lankan bowlers finding their rhythm.
Needing a victory margin of at least 64 runs to advance, Pakistan found little support apart from Abrar Ahmed’s impressive spell of 4-0-23-3.
Sri Lanka, initially struggling at 101/5 in the 12th over, staged a comeback with Pavan Rathnayake’s 58 (37 balls; 4x4s, 3x6s) and Shanaka’s heroics in a 61-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
England, having won all three of their Super Eights matches, topped Group 2, while New Zealand qualified as the second team.
It was a bitter end for Pakistan’s Farhan, who surpassed Virat Kohli’s record of 319 runs in a single T20 World Cup edition. The 29-year-old finished with 383 runs in seven matches, averaging 76.60 and boasting a strike rate of 160.25, with two centuries and two fifties.
Sri Lanka’s chase began tentatively on a flat pitch as Naseem Shah dismissed opener Pathum Nissanka (3) with a slower delivery outside off. Kamil Mishara (26) and Charith Asalanka (25) couldn’t convert their starts.
