Match Overview
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 delivered a heart-stopping finish at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 28, 2026. This was the 50th Match of the Super Eights, Group 2 stage, and both teams fought fiercely for a crucial semifinal spot. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first, hoping to chase down a manageable total under lights.
Pakistan posted a formidable 212/8 in their 20 overs, powered by a brilliant century from Sahibzada Farhan and an explosive 84 from Fakhar Zaman. In reply, Sri Lanka fought valiantly with Dasun Shanaka’s blistering 76* off just 31 balls, but fell just short at 207/6. Pakistan secured a nail-biting 5-run victory, with Sahibzada Farhan deservedly named Player of the Match for his match-winning 100 off 60 deliveries.
Pakistan Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahibzada Farhan | c Liyanage b Madushanka | 100 | 60 | 9 | 5 | 166.66 |
| Fakhar Zaman | b Chameera | 84 | 42 | 9 | 4 | 200.00 |
| Khawaja Nafay | c Asalanka b Madushanka | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Shadab Khan | run out (Madushanka/†Mishara) | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | c Theekshana b Shanaka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Salman Agha (c) | c Theekshana b Shanaka | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Usman Khan † | not out | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | lbw b Madushanka | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Naseem Shah | run out (Mendis/Madushanka) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Abrar Ahmed | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Extras | 6 | |||||
| Total | 212/8 | 20.0 |
Pakistan Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 4 | 0 | 33 | 3 | 8.25 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 12.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 8.75 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 4 | 0 | 42 | 2 | 10.50 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 3 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 12.33 |
| Janith Liyanage | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 |
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Mohammad Nawaz b Naseem Shah | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.85 |
| Kamil Mishara † | b Abrar Ahmed | 26 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 173.33 |
| Charith Asalanka | b Abrar Ahmed | 25 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 138.88 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | c sub (Saim Ayub) b Shaheen Shah Afridi | 58 | 37 | 4 | 3 | 156.75 |
| Kamindu Mendis | b Abrar Ahmed | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Janith Liyanage | b Mohammad Nawaz | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166.66 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | not out | 76 | 31 | 2 | 8 | 245.16 |
| Dunith Wellalage | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Extras | 9 | |||||
| Total | 207/6 | 20.0 |
Sri Lanka Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 12.00 |
| Naseem Shah | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 5.75 |
| Usman Tariq | 4 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 10.75 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 2 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 10.50 |
| Shadab Khan | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 16.50 |
Key Highlights & Match Analysis
This Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard showcased T20 cricket at its most thrilling. Pakistan’s innings was built on a monumental 176-run opening partnership between Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman – the highest for any wicket in men’s T20 World Cup history. Farhan’s century (100 off 60, 9 fours, 5 sixes) was a masterclass in pacing an innings, while Fakhar’s explosive 84 off 42 balls kept the scoring rate soaring. Despite a late collapse losing 7 wickets for just 36 runs, Pakistan’s total of 212 proved just enough.
For Sri Lanka, the chase started poorly with early wickets, but Pavan Rathnayake’s composed 58 off 37 balls kept hopes alive. The true fireworks came from captain Dasun Shanaka, whose unbeaten 76 off 31 deliveries (2 fours, 8 sixes) at a strike rate of 245.16 brought Sri Lanka to the brink. He smashed boundaries for fun in the death overs, but Pakistan’s bowlers held their nerve. Abrar Ahmed was the standout bowler for Pakistan, claiming 3 crucial wickets for just 23 runs in his 4 overs, including the key dismissals of Mishara, Asalanka, and Mendis in the middle phase.
The turning point came in the 18th over when Pakistan took three wickets for just 3 runs, shifting momentum decisively. Sri Lanka needed 12 runs off the final over but could only manage 7, with Dilshan Madushanka’s excellent death bowling restricting the damage. Records fell too – Farhan overtook Virat Kohli for the fastest century by a Pakistani in T20Is, while his partnership with Fakhar set a new World Cup benchmark. This victory kept Pakistan’s semifinal hopes alive, though they ultimately needed other results to go their way.
Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Format | Matches | Pakistan Wins | Sri Lanka Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 32 | 20 | 11 | 1 |
FAQ Section
Q: Who won the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match? A: Pakistan won the match by 5 runs in a thrilling Super 8 encounter at Pallekele on February 28, 2026.
Q: Who was Player of the Match? A: Sahibzada Farhan was named Player of the Match for his brilliant century – 100 runs off 60 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes.
Q: What was the match result? A: Pakistan scored 212/8 in 20 overs; Sri Lanka replied with 207/6 in their 20 overs. Pakistan won by 5 runs.
Q: When and where was the match played? A: The match was played on February 28, 2026, at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Q: What is the current series score? A: This was a standalone Super 8 stage match in the T20 World Cup 2026 tournament, not part of a bilateral series. Pakistan earned 2 points from this win.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka national cricket team vs Pakistan national cricket team match scorecard from February 28, 2026, will be remembered as one of the most exciting T20 World Cup encounters. Pakistan’s batting firepower, led by Farhan and Fakhar, set up a challenging target, while Sri Lanka’s spirited chase, anchored by Shanaka’s heroics, fell just short. Both teams displayed exceptional skill under pressure, making this a true advertisement for T20 cricket. Looking ahead, Pakistan moved closer to semifinal qualification with this win, while Sri Lanka needed to regroup for their remaining Super 8 fixtures. Cricket fans can expect more high-octane action as the T20 World Cup 2026 progresses toward the knockout stages.
