Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five runs in Pallekele thanks to Sahibzada Farhan‘s record-breaking century and Fakhar Zaman’s scorching 84 off 42 balls, but it wasn’t enough to advance them to the T20 World Cup semifinals. The second team from Group 2 to advance to the knockout stages was New Zealand.

Pakistan had to win by roughly 65 runs to qualify after being sent in, and they were in business for the majority of their innings. They started the innings with Fakhar and Farhan, who put on 176 runs in 15.5 overs after Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, and Salman Mirza were replaced by Khawaja Nafay, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed. It surpassed Finn Allen and Tim Seifert’s unbeaten 175 against the United Arab Emirates a few days prior, making it the highest partnership for any wicket in T20 World Cups.

Farhan scored his second century of the competition. Nobody other has ever made more than one in a single T20 World Cup edition. He beat Virat Kohli’s record for most runs in a T20 World Cup on the way. In 2014, Farhan finished with 383 points, while Kohli earned 319.

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Following the spectacular opening stand, Pakistan appeared to be headed for more than 220. However, only 35 runs were scored at a cost of seven wickets in the final four overs. They had to limit Sri Lanka to 147 or less because they could only post 212 for 8.

In the sixteenth over, Sri Lanka exceeded that threshold despite Abrar’s three-for. Dasun Shanaka, however, wasn’t content with it. He desired victory. Sri Lanka needed to score 28 when Shaheen Shah Afridi entered the game to deliver the last over. Shanaka began by using the numbers 4, 6, 6, and 6 to get the necessary six out of two. To beat a reverse scoop, Afridi moved completely outside the box. It was a six-off-one now. Once more, Afridi attempted to conceal the ball. Shanaka walked away anticipating a wide. The game finished in complete anticlimax as the umpire ruled that the delivery was lawful despite the fact that it was fairly close.

Fakhar’s record-breaking stand with Farhan

From the beginning, Farhan and Fakhar shown good intentions. Fakhar stepped out, facing his second delivery, and hit Dilshan Madushanka for four runs at midwicket. Farhan hit Madushanka for a four and a six in the third over after guiding Dushmantha Chameera over cover-point from the opposite end. By the end of the powerplay, the two had reduced Pakistan to 64 for 0.

The pair continued to identify the boundary even after the powerplay. The innings’ first and only over without a boundary was the eleventh over. By that time, Farhan had reached his fiftieth birthday, and Pakistan had surpassed 100. Five fewer than Farhan, Fakhar reached his in the next over after 27 balls.

Their fielders failed Sri Lanka as well. Farhan was dropped by Dunith Wellalage on 75. He was caught by Janith Liyanage on 76, but he stepped into the boundary cushion. When he got Fakhar to pull a wide delivery onto his stumps in the sixteenth over, Chameera finally made his breakthrough. Pakistan kept losing wickets at the last minute as they looked for quick runs, but they didn’t happen. Farhan reached his century off 59 balls.

Abrar and Naseem strike first

In his maiden World Cup encounter, Naseem took his first wicket with just three balls. He slipped in a back-of-the-hand slower ball, full and wide outside off, as Pathum Nissanka was retreating away early. Nissanka attempted to grab it, but was only able to toss it in the direction of additional cover, where Mohammad Nawaz backpedalled to finish the catch. Abrar bowled Kamil Mishara for 26 off 15 in the fifth over while he was leading the chase alone. The powerplay ended at 49 for 2 as Charith Asalanka and Pavan Rathnayake took Naseem for 12 in the sixth over.

Pakistan’s dreams are crushed by Rathnayake and Shanaka.

Before Abrar struck once more, Asalanka and Rathnayake had taken Sri Lanka to 75 in the ninth over. He bowled him after beating Asalanka’s slog sweep. Kamindu Mendis was also sent back by him with the last ball of his spell. Pakistan’s hopes were rekindled when Mohammad Nawaz took control of Liyanage, leaving Sri Lanka 101 for 5. However, a barrage of sixes from Rathnayake and Shanaka destroyed them. The two struck a four and four sixes in ten balls. Pakistan was eliminated when Shanaka took a single off Tariq to put Sri Lanka at 148 after Rathnayake reached his fifty off 32 balls.

Shanaka nearly performs a miracle.

53 runs from four overs were required for Sri Lanka. Afridi gave up just six runs in the 18th and also got rid of Rathnayake, but Shanaka began the 17th with a six against Naseem. Shanaka, however, remained steadfast. He took Shadab for two sixes in the 19th over, with 46 needed from 12 balls, and then hammered Afridi. With six needed from two deliveries, Sri Lanka looked to be the favourites based on his batting style.

Shanaka positioned herself for a paddle sweep on the penultimate delivery. However, the ball was outside off stump and considerably wide. At the last minute, Shanaka attempted to move backwards but was unsuccessful. Afridi again went full and wide for the last ball. Shanaka waited for it to be given a wide and left it alone. In a normal situation, the umpire would have ruled in his favour, but tonight he was on 76 not out from 31 and Sri Lanka was painfully near to their mark.