Match overview

Pakistan beat USA by 32 runs in a T20 International at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on 10 February 2026. Batting first after USA won the toss and chose to field, Pakistan posted 190 for 9. A total that proved sufficient despite a chaotic final five overs in which they lost 6 wickets for 53 runs. USA's reply was competitive through the first 15 overs but their death batting collapsed: 47 runs fell for 5 wickets between overs 16 and 20, and they finished on 158 for 8. Sahibzada Farhan was named Player of the Match.

The margin tells only part of the story. USA kept themselves in contention deep into the chase, and at the midpoint of their innings the match was genuinely open. Pakistan's experience in the closing stages made the difference. Their bowlers restricted USA to a below-par death total in conditions where, historically, sides batting second at this ground have averaged 259 runs across 46 T20 matches.

Venue and conditions

The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground is one of Sri Lanka's most storied venues, with 46 T20 matches on record. The average first-innings score is 249 and the second-innings average is 259, both markedly higher than either total posted in this fixture. On this occasion the ground played slower than its historical norms, which may have suited Pakistan's bowling in the final phase.

The powerplay at this venue averages 20 runs per over, and the death phase averages 15. USA's powerplay of 50 runs was ahead of the ground average; Pakistan's powerplay of 56 for 2 was similarly aggressive. The match was decided not in those opening exchanges but in the death, where Pakistan conceded 47 while taking 5 wickets. The chase success rate here sits at 40%, meaning teams batting second win fewer than half their matches. USA found themselves on the wrong side of that tendency.

Teams choose to field first 48% of the time at this venue. USA's decision to do so was well within norms. Given those toss and venue patterns, Pakistan's score of 190 looked manageable on paper, but the chase proved beyond USA in the final stages.

How to watch

Pakistan T20I cricket is typically broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV. Fixture-by-fixture availability can vary depending on broadcast agreements for touring series, so it is worth checking the Sky Sports schedule in advance. Some bilateral series involving associate nations may also carry coverage on secondary sports channels or streaming platforms.

For listeners in the UK, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website often carry ball-by-ball commentary for international cricket, including bilateral T20I series. Check the BBC Sport cricket pages for schedule details ahead of any future fixtures in this series.

Recent form

Pakistan came into this fixture in strong form, having won four of their five T20I matches in 2026. Three of those wins came against Australia, with a further victory over Netherlands. Their only defeat in that run was against Sri Lanka. A side comfortable on subcontinental surfaces and in winning habits, they were favourites to handle the Colombo conditions.

USA's recent record was mixed but showed clear improvement. They won four of their previous five T20I fixtures, though those victories came against UAE and Nepal rather than top-ranked opposition. A defeat to India immediately before this trip to Colombo was their most recent result. Their competitive start against Pakistan. Particularly in the powerplay and middle overs. Suggests the gap between them and more established T20I sides is narrowing, even if 32 runs short of a target of 191 remains a significant deficit. The next meeting between these sides will be worth watching.