New Zealand reaches T20 World Cup semifinals after Pakistan beats Sri Lanka by only 5 runs

By Canadian Press on February 28, 2026.

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — New Zealand backed into the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals when Pakistan could only narrowly beat Sri Lanka in a gripping match on Saturday.

Pakistan had to restrict Sri Lanka’s chase to 147 to advance from the Super Eights at New Zealand’s expense.

It looked achievable when Pakistan reduced Sri Lanka to 101-5 in the 12th over. But its hopes were foiled when Pavan Rathnayake and captain Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka to 148 in the 16th over.

But then Pakistan found itself in danger of failing to defend its highest ever T20 World Cup total, 212.

Shanaka began the last over against Shaheen Shah Afridi by slamming 4-6-6-6. Sri Lanka could pull off a heist with six runs needed off the last two balls.

But Shanaka missed trying to scoop the fifth ball and left the sixth, a yorker, thinking it was wide. It was not.

Pakistan won by five runs and bowed out of the tournament, a point behind New Zealand.

Sri Lanka was already out of semifinals contention but finished to applause from its home crowd after going down swinging.

England, New Zealand and South Africa have nailed semifinal spots. India and the West Indies will play for the last place on Sunday.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The Associated Press