Rawalpindi witnessed a gripping moment on Wednesday afternoon, and surprisingly, it was not about the contest itself. Sri Lanka were comfortably placed in their chase of 147, but the real suspense centred on Pathum Nissanka’s nervous nineties. The crowd held its breath as he stood on the verge of only his second T20I century.
With Sri Lanka needing 10 runs and Nissanka 12, the script seemed perfectly set. Ngarava’s wide off the first ball only added to the tension. Then came the authoritative boundary—straight past cover—to take him to 92. Supporters were torn between wanting the match to last long enough for the milestone and wanting a swift finish. Nissanka, however, remained unbothered. Spotting a length ball, he cleared his front leg and dispatched it over mid-wicket for six, sealing victory and finishing unbeaten on 98.
Beyond the personal milestone drama, the match held enormous significance for Sri Lanka. Defeat would have virtually ended their hopes of making the final. Zimbabwe had earlier posted 146 for five, with Raza and Burl guiding them with identical scores of 37. But their total did not seem enough on a pitch that favoured fluent strokeplay.
Sri Lanka began their chase aggressively, reaching 64 in the powerplay. Mishara departed for 12, but Nissanka and Mendis ensured no further stumbles. Together they maintained composure and punished poor deliveries, showcasing excellent shot selection.
Nissanka’s remarkable innings also carried historical weight. He surpassed Kusal Perera to become Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer in T20 internationals, his tally now 2,326. Close behind are Mendis and Perera, turning the race for top honours into a compelling subplot of Sri Lankan cricket.
Sri Lanka now face Pakistan in what promises to be a do-or-die clash for a place in the final.