Pakistan eliminated despite win over Sri Lanka
Pakistan were eliminated from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 despite securing a five run victory over Sri Lanka in their Super 8 fixture in Kandy on Saturday.
A record opening partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan carried Pakistan to 8/212. Their qualification hopes depended on restricting Sri Lanka to 147. Sri Lanka closed on 6/207, falling five runs short yet ending Pakistan’s campaign. New Zealand progressed on superior net run rate and joined England and South Africa in the semi finals. India and West Indies will contest the final semi final berth.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to field. Pakistan omitted former captain Babar Azam, whose strike rate in the format had drawn scrutiny.
Zaman and Farhan provided urgency from the outset. Pakistan reached 64 in the powerplay, 100 inside 10 overs, 150 in 14 overs and passed 200 in the 19th over. Their opening stand of 176 set a T20 World Cup record for any wicket.
Farhan scored 100 from 60 balls and became the only batter to register two centuries in a single edition of a T20 world event. He also surpassed Virat Kohli for the most runs in one T20 World Cup edition, finishing with 383. Kohli had scored 319 at the 2013 to 14 tournament in Bangladesh.
Zaman struck 84 from 42 balls, including nine fours and four sixes, before Dushmantha Chameera bowled him. Pakistan then lost eight wickets for 34 runs in under five overs. Dilshan Madushanka claimed three wickets, including Farhan.
Sri Lanka reached 2/49 in the powerplay in reply. Naseem Shah dismissed Pathum Nissanka with a slower ball. Abrar Ahmed took 3/23, removing Kamil Mishara, Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis. Sri Lanka slipped to 5/101 before Shanaka and Pavan Rathnayake added 61.
Rathnayake struck 58 with four fours and three sixes. Shanaka remained unbeaten on 76 from 31 balls. He hit three consecutive sixes off Shaheen Afridi in the final over. Sri Lanka required six from the final two deliveries and finished short at 6/207. The outcome eliminated both teams.
South Africa remain unbeaten
South Africa completed the Super 8 stage unbeaten after defeating Zimbabwe by five wickets in New Delhi.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza scored 73 from 43 balls and took 3/29. Zimbabwe posted 7/153 after choosing to bat. Raza shared stands of 38 with Dion Myers and 39 with Clive Madande, who made 26 not out.
Anrich Nortje and Kwena Maphaka replaced Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. Maphaka returned 2/21. Lungi Ngidi became South Africa’s leading T20 international wicket taker, moving beyond Tabraiz Shamsi’s 89 wickets.
Zimbabwe reduced South Africa to 3/43 in the powerplay. Dewald Brevis struck 42 from 25 balls and added 50 with David Miller. George Linde finished 30 not out and Tristan Stubbs made 21 as South Africa reached 5/154 in 17.5 overs. They will face New Zealand in the semi finals in Kolkata.
India sink West Indies to qualify
India secured a semi final meeting with England after defeating West Indies by five wickets in Kolkata.
West Indies posted 4/195 at Eden Gardens. Shai Hope made 32 and Roston Chase scored 40 on his first T20I innings as an opener.
Jasprit Bumrah removed Shimron Hetmyer for 27 and Chase in the same over. Hardik Pandya dismissed Sherfane Rutherford. Rovman Powell hit 34 from 19 balls and became the first West Indian to reach 150 sixes in T20 internationals. Jason Holder added 37 from 22 balls as the pair shared 76 from 35 deliveries.
India reached 53 for 2 in the powerplay. Sanju Samson struck 97 not out from 50 balls, the highest score by an Indian in a T20 World Cup run chase.
He added 58 with Suryakumar Yadav and 42 with Tilak Varma. Samson hit 12 fours and four sixes and struck the winning boundary as India closed on 5/199 in 19.2 overs.
