PAK vs SL, T20 World Cup: Pakistan survive Shanaka scare to earn consolation win

All eyes will be on the IND vs WI match tomorrow in Kolkata. It is a virtual quarterfinal and the winner will seal the last semifinal spot.

Teams in semifinals

• England (Group 2)
• South Africa (Group 1)
• New Zealand (Group 2)

Pakistan finish Super 8 at 3rd place with 3 points and an NRR of -0.123. New Zealand finished second with +1.390 NRR and 3 points. England have won all their games to score 6 points.

Dasun Shanaka can't win it for Sri Lanka. After getting hit for 22 runs off the first four balls, Shaheen Afridi bowled the last two dot balls to win it for Pakistan. Dasun Shanaka played an excellent knock of 31-ball 76 but they fell short by 5 runs. There was a call for a wide on the last delivery. But Shanaka did not take the review, and he is getting an earful from coach Sanath Jayasuriya and bowling coach Lasith Malinga. 

Dasun Shanaka smashes Shaheen Afridi for 4, 6, and 6 to keep Sri Lanka's hopes alive. They need 6 off 2.

Captain Dasun Shanaka has kept the glimmer of hope alive with a 24-ball 50. He gets to the milestone with a six off Shadab Khan. Sri Lanka need 29 off 8.

No real celebration as Shaheen Afridi removes Pavan Rathnanayake for 58 off 37. A win won't matter for Pakistan and the wicket means, Sri Lanka's hopes of chasing down 213 is all but dashed.

Sri Lanka have got to 148. That means Pakistan cannot surpass New Zealand in net run rate. Pakistan are eliminated from the T20 World Cup semifinal race. England and New Zealand qualify for the semifinals from Group 2. New Zealand will take on England.

Pavan Rathnanayake is keeping Sri Lanka's hopes of a record chase alive. He hits Shadab Khan for two sixes to score his half-century off 32 balls.

Despite regular wickets, Sri Lanka have kept the charge on. With Pavan Rathnanayake playing a solid knock, Sri Lanka need just 28 runs to eliminate Pakistan. But they need 93 runs more to win off 36 balls.

Sri Lanka are 5 down for 101 as Mohd Nawaz cleans up Janith Liyanage. Pakistan need 5 more in 46 runs. 

A slow, slow delivery as Abrar Ahmed cleans up his third victim, Kamindu Mendis, for 3. All of his wickets have come through clean-bowled. Abrar ends his excellent spell with 3/23. Sri Lanka 94/4 in 11.

Usman Tariq hasn't been at his best today. In two overs, he has given away 23 runs without any success. Sri Lanka score 85/3 in 10 overs with 128 runs still required off the last 10 overs.

Abrar Ahmed almost had another wicket. Abrar's ball hit Kamindu Mendis on the pads and the on-field decision was out. But Kamindu took the review immediately and the replays showed that the ball hit the gloves first before the pads.

Abrar Ahmed has another wicket and this was also a clean bowled. Charith Asalanka was going well but as he tried to sweep Abrar, he missed the ball completely. Sri Lanka 75/3.

Pakistan have brought in Usman Tariq into the attack. But Charith Asalanka is in no mood to relent. He has smashed him for a four and a six, reading the ball nicely.

End of powerplay and Sri Lanka have managed just 49/2 in the powerplay on a batting-friendly surface. Charith Asalanka and Pavan Rathnayake are on the crease. Pakistan were 64/0 in the powerplay.

Kamil Mishara was looking threatening and Pakistan had to introduce spin. Guess what, they did as Abrar Ahmed cleaned up Mishara on the first ball. Sri Lanka 33/2.

Excellent shot by Kamil Mishara as he takes on Shaheen Afridi on the slower delivery to loft it straight for a six. Then, he followed that up with a four through the extra cover.

After surviving a chance on Naseem Shah's delivery, Pathum Nissanka has thrown his wicket away. He tried to clear the in-field by just throwing his bat on a widish delivery. But he did not time it well and gave away a dolly to Mohd Nawaz. Sri Lanka 8/1.

Pathum Nissanka has a new opening partner as Kusal Mendis is ruled out of the T20 World Cup. Kamil Mishara is the new opener as Sri Lanka begin 213-run chase.

Madushanka comes up for the last over now. He gets Farhan first and then Shaheen as well. Another run out follows in the same over. PAK end with 212/8 in 20 overs. From 176/0 in 15.4 overs, Pakistan managed to post 212. They lost 8 wickets for 36 runs. They need to keep Sri Lanka under 147.

Sahibzada Farhan gets to his second ton of the tournament in only 59 deliveries here. This the most by any batter in a single edition. Shanaka gets two wickets in one over here. A comeback on the cards? It is 203/5 in 19 overs.

Now Madushanka has a wicket. Khawaja Nafay was sent to up the ante, but he fails, and is caught at long on. PAK 179/2 now.

Chameera bowls it really wide to the left-hander.. Fakhar tries to reach for it and chops it on to the stumps. An excellent innings of 84 from 42 comes to an end.

The runs continue to come easy, like they were at the start of the innings. Both batters would be looking for respective tons now. It is 163/0 in 15 overs.

Liyanage comes into the attack and is hit for 14 runs. It is one thing to bowl on a bad pitch, but Sri Lankans are not just trying. PAK 150/0 in 14 overs.

The way things are moving for Pakistan, one might not be surprised, if they end up reaching 240. They are 136/0 in 13 overs.

Fakhar gets his first 50 of the tournament.. What is Sri Lanka is even doing. The batter gets his fifty in only 26 deliveries. It is 125/0 in 12 overs.

Most 50-plus scores in a T20 World Cup edition
4 - M Hayden (2007)
4 - Virat Kohli (2014)
4 - Babar Azam (2021)
4 - Virat Kohli (2022)
4 - Sahibzada Farhan (2026)*

Sahibzada Farhan is having a tournament of a lifetime. He brings up 50 in only 32 deliveries. 200 happening for Pakistan for sure. PAK 90/0 in 9 overs.

It is clear, Sri Lanka are in no mood to win this match. It just appears, they aren't trying enough. PAK 71/0 in 8 overs.

6 overs done here and Pakistan is cruising at the moment and Sri Lanka bowlers are struggling. PAK reach 64/0 already.

Pakistan is on a mission here. They have scored 51/0 in 5 overs and have laid the foundations for 200 here. Excellent start for the visitors.

Spin introduced already now. Mahessh Theekshana comes into the attack. Farhan gets a four again. The run rate is getting up now. It is 38/0 in 4 overs.

Sahibzada Farhan wants to take most of the strike here and gets a four and a six in the fresh over from Madushanka. Doesn't take a single. PAK 26/0 in 3 overs

Chameera comes up with a miserly over here, and batting isn't looking easy for now. And as we say this, Farhan gets a four through point. PAK 16/0 in 2 overs.

As expected Sahibzada and Fakhar open the innings. Madushanka starts for Sri Lanka. Just a bouundary from the over. PAK 7/0 in 1 over.

Both teams line up for national anthems here. That should be enough motivation for both teams to fight tooth and nail.

Unlike Colombo, there won't be muchb spin on offer, andf it will be a wicket where Sahibzada will like to bat. Let's see what happens here.

Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara(w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

What has Pakistan done here.. They have dropped  Babar Azam. Thiis could be a big statement, going into the future.

Dasun Shanka wins the toss and opts to bowl first. So, Pakistan will have to win by at least 63-65 runs. Two changes for the home side.

It is time for toss and let's see what happens here. It will be interesting to see how Pakistan XI shapes up here. They would really be banking on their spinners.

Despite some inspiring performances in the group stage, Sri Lanka failed to turn up in the Super 8. Since their win over Australia, Sri Lanka have lost three matches in a row, to Zimbabwe, England and New Zealand. In the last two matches, Sri Lanka have managed to score just 95 and 107. This is their last match of the T20 World Cup, and before the shake-up of the coaching staff and the players, this is their chance to repay the trust to the fans who turned up in numbers.

If Pakistan bat first: They must win by at least 65 runs (the exact margin will vary as per the total but defending 160 will require a 64-run win). This boosts their NRR sufficiently to surpass NZ.

If Pakistan bat second (chase): They must complete the chase in approximately 13.1 overs or fewer for a target of 160. Rapid chases dramatically improve NRR.

The pitch favours batters early but slows later, aiding spin. Pakistan hold a slight edge historically and in urgency. Despite offering good batting pitches in the first two games, in the last three matches at Pallekele, the surface has been on the slower side. The average first-innings total in the last three matches has been just around 140. If the same pitch is used, it will aid spinners. 

Pakistan holds the upper hand overall, including in recent encounters and high-scoring games. Sri Lanka's highest total against Pakistan is 211/3 (Dubai, 2013). In neutral or away conditions, Pakistan often dominates, but Sri Lanka can upset at home. In T20 World Cups, both sides have shared four matches, 2-2. 

• Matches: 29
• Pakistan wins: 17
• Sri Lanka wins: 12

Sri Lanka, already eliminated, will play with freedom and pride on familiar turf. They also need to answer their critics, especially the fans after they were jeered following another sub-par batting performance against New Zealand. 

However, they have received a further injury blow with Kusal Mendis ruled out with a hamstring injury. 

Pakistan have their calculators out once again. They must beat Sri Lanka in Pallekele. With their semifinal hopes hanging by a thread due to a subpar net run rate (-0.461), Salman Ali Agha’s side must win by around 64 runs if batting first or chase down a target in 13 overs to surpass New Zealand and advance. 

However, chasing down a target in 13 overs seems rather far-fetched as questions linger over their batting tempo, particularly Babar Azam's approach. But Pakistan have the bowling attack to win by 65 runs or more. Hence, the toss would be crucial for Pakistan.

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Kusal Perera, Pramod Madushan, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara