Final result
Pakistan Cricket won by 5 runs
Player of the match: Sahibzada Farhan
Result · T20 Internationals
Pakistan Cricket vs Sri Lanka
Result · T20 Internationals
Venue par · 130Chase success · 77%POTM · Sahibzada Farhan
Match preview & overview
Pakistan hold their nerve to edge Sri Lanka by 5 runs in Pallekele T20I thriller
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 5 runs at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on 28 February 2026, in a T20 international that went the distance. Pakistan posted 212/8 from their 20 overs and Sri Lanka's response fell just short at 207/6. Sahibzada Farhan took the Player of the Match award. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field, a decision that looked sound when Pakistan's death overs collapsed spectacularly, but the total proved too steep.
The match split cleanly into two contrasting halves. Pakistan were immaculate for 16 overs: 64/0 in the powerplay, then 99 runs added for no wicket through the middle phase. The final four overs were a different story entirely. Pakistan lost 8 wickets whilst scoring only 49 runs, gifting Sri Lanka a chase that felt genuinely manageable. Sri Lanka's reply followed an almost mirror-image pattern in reverse: two wickets down in the powerplay, three more in the middle, then an extraordinary 72 runs from 1 wicket in the death overs. Five runs short, but it was desperately close.
Pitch report & venue insights
Cricket Stadium, Sector-16 — 13-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2019. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
13
T20 matches hosted
130
Avg 1st-innings score
119
Avg 2nd-innings score
77%
Chase success rate
36
Avg powerplay runs
46%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Pakistan's powerplay set the platform
Pakistan reached 64/0 after six overs, well above Pallekele's average powerplay score of 42 runs. That flying start allowed them to build without pressure through the middle overs, where they added a further 99 runs for no wicket.
Angle 02
Death-overs collapse nearly cost Pakistan
Angle 03
Sri Lanka's death-overs chase was extraordinary
Angle 04
Pallekele is a high-scoring venue with a near-even chase record
Angle 05
Sahibzada Farhan named Player of the Match
Key players
Players who decided it
Pakistan Cricket
Sahibzada Farhan
Sri Lanka Cricket
FDM Karunaratne
Sri Lanka Cricket
BKG Mendis
Sri Lanka Cricket
A Dananjaya
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets could be more informative than outright result lines at Pallekele, given how evenly balanced the chase success rate is across 106 matches here.
- Powerplay performance is a strong differentiator at this venue: Pakistan's 64 runs in the powerplay dwarfed the ground average of 42, which tends to shape the rest of the innings significantly.
- Death-overs specialist bowlers may carry more market relevance than their overall economy suggests, given how dramatically the match shifted in the final phase.
- The near-even toss and chase record at Pallekele (50 per cent field rate, 51 per cent chase success) means toss-related markets are unlikely to offer a strong structural edge.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Pakistan Cricket vs Sri Lanka
Who won the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I at Pallekele in February 2026?
Pakistan won by 5 runs. They posted 212/8 batting first and Sri Lanka fell just short on 207/6 despite a remarkable death-overs chase of 72 runs in the final phase.
Who won the toss and what did they decide?
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field. Pakistan took full advantage, racing to 64/0 in the powerplay before building a total of 212/8.
Who was Player of the Match in the Pallekele T20I?
Sahibzada Farhan was named Player of the Match. His contribution at the top of Pakistan's order was central to their total, which proved just sufficient on a ground where the average first-innings score is 208.
Where can I watch Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20Is in the UK?
T20 internationals between Pakistan and Sri Lanka are typically broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with coverage also available via Sky Go and NOW TV for those without a full subscription.
What is the head-to-head record between Pakistan and Sri Lanka?
Across 117 meetings in all formats, Pakistan lead 62 wins to 44 for Sri Lanka, with 11 no results. In the most recent five matches across 2025 and 2026, Pakistan have won three and Sri Lanka two.
Is Pallekele a good venue for chasing?
Yes, broadly. Across 106 matches at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, the chase success rate is 51 per cent, which is essentially even. The average first-innings score is 208, so totals above that carry a genuine advantage.