February 28, 2026
Pakistan struck early in the chase as Naseem Shah dismissed Pathum Nissanka for 3 runs in just the 1.3 over. Shaheen Shah Afridi kept the run flow under control, conceding only 5 runs in his opening over, making it difficult for Sri Lanka to settle. Kamil Mishara showed a small resistance with 4 off 2 balls, but Sri Lanka found themselves struggling at 8/1 in the 1.4 overs mark.
Chasing a massive total of 213, the early breakthroughs have put Sri Lanka under immense pressure. Pakistan’s pace duo has ensured that the hosts will have to build crucial partnerships quickly if they want to keep their Super 8 T20 World Cup 2026 hopes alive.