Dasun Shanaka delivered a performance for the ages in the T20 World Cup 2026, as Sri Lanka pushed Pakistan to the brink in a high-stakes encounter. The Sri Lankan skipper’s unbeaten 76 from 31 balls, featuring 8 massive sixes, not only kept his team in the hunt but also rewrote the record books in spectacular fashion.
Coming in at No. 7, Shanaka obliterated the previous best score at that position in T20 World Cups, bettering Mike Hussey’s 60 not out. His eight sixes marked a new Sri Lankan record in T20s, topping Kusal Perera’s haul, while his tournament tally of 21 sixes as captain surpassed Rohit Sharma’s 19, cementing his legacy.
Pakistan set a daunting 213, thanks to Sahibzada Farhan’s ton and Fakhar Zaman’s explosive 84. Sri Lanka’s chase was valiant, reaching 207 for 6. The climax unfolded in the last over: 28 needed, Shanaka smashed a boundary and three sixes, reducing it to 6 off 2. But Shaheen Afridi held firm, securing a thrilling 5-run win.
Pawan Rathnayake chipped in with 58, yet Pakistan’s narrow triumph dashed their semifinal dreams. Despite the victory, they couldn’t meet the required parameters—a sub-13.1 over chase or 65-run margin—allowing New Zealand to pip them on net run rate in Group 2. Shanaka’s innings, a blend of power and poise, remains the standout memory from this pulsating battle.