The fixture carries major semifinal implications, with England eyeing qualification and Pakistan fighting to stay alive in the tournament.
Farhan Leads the Charge
After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose to bat first on what he termed a fresh surface.
Early wickets dented Pakistan’s progress as Saim Ayub (7) and Salman Ali Agha (5) were dismissed cheaply, leaving the side at 27 for 2.
Babar Azam steadied the innings alongside Sahibzada Farhan, adding 46 runs before Babar fell for 25.
Farhan anchored the innings with a composed 63 off 45 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. He also stitched together a crucial 49-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman (25), taking Pakistan to 122 before wickets tumbled late in the innings.
Quick dismissals of Usman Khan (8), Mohammad Nawaz (0) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (2) slowed Pakistan’s momentum, but the side managed to reach 164 for 8.
England Eye Semifinal Spot
England, led by Harry Brook, fielded an unchanged XI. Brook said his team would also have preferred to bat first and admitted they had yet to produce their best performance.
England come into the match with strong momentum, having won all four games at Pallekele recently. Historically, they have dominated Pakistan in T20 World Cups, winning all three previous encounters between the sides.
With England sitting on two points and a superior net run rate, a win would seal their semifinal berth. Pakistan, with just one point after a washout against New Zealand cricket team, must defend 164 to keep their campaign alive.
Spin is expected to play a decisive role, with England boasting multiple spin options including Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson.
As the chase unfolds under lights in Kandy, Pakistan’s semifinal hopes hang in the balance.