Openers Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan put Pakistan in control with a record opening stand against Sri Lanka in a must-win Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup at Pallekele International Stadium on Saturday.
Batting first, Pakistan built a 176-run partnership for the opening wicket, their highest stand for any wicket in T20 World Cup history. It is also the third-highest partnership for Pakistan in all T20Is.
Sri Lanka did not help their cause in the field. Dunith Wellalage dropped Farhan when he was on 75. Kamindu Mendis Liyanage appeared to have caught him on 76 but stepped on the boundary cushion.
The breakthrough came through Dushmantha Chameera. He bowled wide outside off to Fakhar, who had been moving across the crease through the innings.
This time, Fakhar got an inside edge that deflected onto the stumps.
The opening stand of 176 is now a T20 World Cup record, going past the unbroken 175-run stand between Finn Allen and Tim Seifert against UAE earlier in the tournament.
176 – Sahibzada Farhan & Fakhar Zaman (PAK) vs SL, Pallekele, 2026*
175* – Tim Seifert & Finn Allen (NZ) vs UAE, Chennai, 2026
170* – Jos Buttler & Alex Hales (ENG) vs IND, Adelaide, 2022
168 – Quinton de Kock & Rilee Rossouw (SA) vs BAN, Sydney, 2022
166 – Mahela Jayawardene & Kumar Sangakkara (SL) vs WI, Barbados, 2010
154 – Ibrahim Zadran & Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) vs UGA, Providence, 2024
Pakistan post 212
Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman powered Pakistan to 212 in the first innings.
Pakistan bowlers need to stop Sri Lanka at 147 or less to to go past New Zealand on net run rate and qualify for the semi-finals.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl in their final Super 8 match at Pallekele in Kandy.
Pakistan made changes to their playing XI. Former captain Babar Azam was left out after a run of low scores. Saim Ayub was also not included.
Pakistan entered the match after a narrow loss to two-time champions England on Tuesday. Sri Lanka were already out of the tournament following defeats to England and New Zealand in their first two Super 8 matches.
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