Flying Start as Farhan, Zaman Dominate Powerplay
Pakistan have stormed past 100 in the 10th over without losing a wicket in this crucial ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman have attacked from the outset, capitalising on a batting-friendly surface in Pallekele. At the end of the powerplay, Pakistan raced to 64/0, laying the ideal foundation for a massive total. Zaman survived a nick early on when Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka opted against a review. The left-hander soon made the most of that reprieve and brought up a fluent half-century, keeping the scoreboard ticking at over 10 runs per over.
Farhan Breaks Kohli’s Record in Stunning Run
Farhan etched his name in T20 World Cup history by becoming the highest run-getter in a single edition, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 319 runs set in the 2014 tournament in Bangladesh. The milestone underlines his consistency and dominance at the top of the order. With both openers firing and wickets in hand, Pakistan now eye a total in excess of 200. Given the small boundaries and even bounce at Pallekele, the conditions favour aggressive stroke play, which perfectly suits Pakistan’s attacking approach.
Selection Shocks and Tactical Changes
Pakistan made bold selection calls ahead of this high-stakes game. Former captain Babar Azam was left out, alongside Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza. Salman Agha leads the side in this must-win fixture. Sri Lanka also introduced two changes, bringing in Kamil Mishara and Janith Liyanage. Despite their strong bowling performances earlier in the tournament, Sri Lanka’s attack has struggled to contain Pakistan’s explosive start today.
Semi-Final Hopes Hang on Big Win
Pakistan entered the match with a net run rate of -0.461, trailing New Zealand’s superior figure. However, England’s recent win over New Zealand has reopened the semi-final race. If Pakistan defeat Sri Lanka convincingly and boost their net run rate, they can leapfrog New Zealand in Group 2. Fans will recall similar dramatic turnarounds in 1992 and 2022, when Pakistan rode unexpected results to reach the final stages. For now, everything depends on how big they can make this total—and how clinical they remain with the ball later tonight.
