Brook’s Historic Century Powers England Past Pakistan, Seals Semifinal Spot

Kandy (Sri Lanka), Feb 24: In one of the most gripping contests of the tournament, England held their nerve to edge past Pakistan by two wickets in a Super 8 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Skipper Harry Brook produced a captain’s innings for the ages, blasting an unbeaten 100 off just 51 balls to guide his side home with five deliveries to spare and confirm England as the first team to qualify for the semifinals.

Chasing a competitive target of 165, England found themselves under pressure early. Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi struck twice in the powerplay, removing Phil Salt for a duck and Jos Buttler cheaply to leave the chase wobbling. Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton also failed to settle, and England were suddenly searching for stability. That assurance arrived in the form of Brook, who combined calm decision-making with fearless strokeplay to seize control of the contest.

Brook’s innings was a blend of authority and timing. He rotated the strike intelligently against spin, punished loose deliveries, and ensured the required rate never drifted beyond reach. His partnerships proved decisive: a fluent stand with Sam Curran steadied the innings, while a brisk alliance with Will Jacks kept England ahead of the asking rate. As wickets fell around him, Brook shifted gears, launching a series of audacious shots to swing momentum firmly in England’s favour.

The England captain reached his century with a boundary off Afridi, becoming the first skipper to score a hundred in a men’s T20 World Cup match. His knock, studded with 10 fours and four sixes, placed him in elite company among England batters in the tournament’s history. Though Brook was dismissed immediately after reaching the landmark, the damage had been done. Calm finishing from the lower order ensured England crossed the line in dramatic fashion.

Earlier in the evening, Pakistan had shown intent after winning the toss and opting to bat. Opener Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with a well-crafted 63 off 45 balls, striking the ball cleanly through the off side and finding regular boundaries. He shared a steady partnership with Babar Azam, but Pakistan struggled to fully capitalise as England’s bowlers tightened the screws through the middle overs.

England’s spin duo, led by Liam Dawson, played a pivotal role in containing Pakistan. Dawson’s variations and accuracy yielded three key wickets, while the pace of Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer ensured breakthroughs at crucial moments. Fakhar Zaman injected urgency with a quick 25, and Shadab Khan’s late cameo of 23 off 11 balls added valuable runs, but Pakistan’s innings lost momentum due to regular wickets, ending at 164 for nine.

Despite a spirited bowling effort led by Afridi, who struck vital blows and threatened to derail the chase, Pakistan were unable to prevent Brook’s onslaught. England’s ability to absorb pressure and strike back at decisive moments proved the difference in a contest that swung repeatedly between the two sides.

The victory significantly strengthens England’s position in Super 8 Group 2 and underscores their credentials as serious title contenders. Having already defeated Sri Lanka earlier in the Super 8s—and with Pakistan’s fixture against New Zealand washed out—England’s narrow win ensured early passage to the last four.

For Pakistan, the defeat leaves their semifinal hopes hanging by a thread, with little margin for error in the remaining matches. For England, however, the night belonged to their captain. Brook was deservedly named Player of the Match, his historic century standing as one of the defining moments of the tournament so far.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Super 8 Match

Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Match: Pakistan vs England

Pakistan Innings

164/9 in 20 overs

Batting

• Sahibzada Farhan – 63 (45 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes)
• Babar Azam – 25 (24 balls, 2 fours)
• Fakhar Zaman – 25 (16 balls, 2 fours, 1 six)
• Shadab Khan – 23* (11 balls, 2 fours, 1 six)
• Saim Ayub – 7
• Salman Ali Agha – 5
• Mohammad Nawaz – 4
• Usman Khan – 6
• Extras – 6

Fall of Wickets:
1-14, 2-31, 3-77, 4-123, 5-131, 6-137, 7-149, 8-158, 9-164

England Bowling

• Liam Dawson – 4 overs, 24 runs, 3 wickets
• Jamie Overton – 4 overs, 26 runs, 2 wickets
• Jofra Archer – 4 overs, 32 runs, 2 wickets
• Adil Rashid – 4 overs, 30 runs, 1 wicket
• Sam Curran – 2 overs, 18 runs, 1 wicket

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England Innings

165/8 in 19.1 overs

Batting

• Harry Brook – 100 (51 balls, 10 fours, 4 sixes)*
• Will Jacks – 28 (20 balls, 3 fours, 1 six)
• Sam Curran – 16 (12 balls, 1 four)
• Phil Salt – 0
• Jos Buttler – 2
• Jacob Bethell – 8
• Tom Banton – 2
• Liam Dawson – 1*
• Jofra Archer – 5*

Fall of Wickets:
1-0, 2-5, 3-22, 4-40, 5-92, 6-137, 7-160, 8-160

Pakistan Bowling

• Shaheen Shah Afridi – 4 overs, 30 runs, 4 wickets
• Usman Tariq – 4 overs, 29 runs, 2 wickets
• Shadab Khan – 4 overs, 35 runs, 1 wicket
• Mohammad Nawaz – 3 overs, 28 runs, 1 wicket
• Haris Rauf – 4 overs, 34 runs, 0 wickets

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Result

England won by 2 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)

Player of the Match

Harry Brook (England) – 100* (51 balls)