Pallekele, (UNI) Captain Harry Brook delivered one of the finest knocks of the tournament, smashing a breathtaking century to guide England to a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 45th Match of Super 8 Group 2 (Y1 v Y3) of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, as England sealed their place in the semifinals.
Chasing a competitive 165, England were rocked early by a fiery burst from Shaheen Afridi. Philip Salt fell to the very first ball of the innings, caught behind, and Jos Buttler soon followed for 2, leaving England stunned in the opening over. When Jacob Bethell also succumbed to Shaheen for 8, the scoreboard read 35 for three and Pakistan sensed an opening.
Brook, however, responded with authority and composure. Mixing calculated aggression with intelligent strike rotation, he wrested back control of the chase. The right-hander launched a counter-attack of the highest quality, striking 100 off just 51 balls, an innings embellished with 10 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 196.08.
He first rebuilt alongside Sam Curran, adding 45 vital runs to steady the innings. Curran contributed 16 off 15 balls before falling to Usman Tariq. Brook then found an able ally in Will Jacks, with the duo stitching together a decisive 52-run partnership that tilted the momentum England’s way.
Even as wickets fell at the other end — Tom Banton managed only 2 and later Jacks departed for 28 — Brook continued to dominate, piercing gaps and clearing the ropes with remarkable fluency. His century came under pressure and kept England ahead of the required rate despite Pakistan’s persistent fightback.
Pakistan struck back in the death overs through Mohammad Nawaz, who dismissed Jacks and Jamie Overton in quick succession. When Brook was bowled in the 17th over with England on 155 for six, the contest hung in the balance.
But Liam Dawson held his nerve at one end, remaining unbeaten on 1, while Jofra Archer struck a crucial boundary in his unbeaten 5 off two balls to take England to 166 for eight in 19.1 overs, sealing victory with five balls to spare.
Earlier, Pakistan, after winning the toss and opting to bat, posted 164 for nine in their allotted 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with a fluent 63 off 45 balls, anchoring the innings with seven fours and two sixes. He shared a stabilising 46-run partnership with Babar Azam, who made 25 off 24 deliveries.
Pakistan lost Saim Ayub (7) and captain Salman Agha (5) cheaply in the Powerplay, but Farhan ensured steady progress. Fakhar Zaman injected momentum in the middle overs with a brisk 25 off 16 balls, while Shadab Khan provided a late flourish, hammering 23 off just 11 deliveries to lift Pakistan past the 160-mark.
England’s bowlers, however, kept chipping away at regular intervals. Liam Dawson was particularly effective, returning figures of three for 24 in his four overs to control the middle phase. Jofra Archer (2/32) and Jamie Overton (2/26) provided key breakthroughs, while Adil Rashid removed Fakhar at a crucial stage.
Pakistan managed 46 runs in the Powerplay but lost wickets at critical moments in the closing overs, which prevented them from pushing towards a bigger total.
Shaheen Afridi finished with impressive figures of four for 30, accounting for England’s top-order batters and nearly scripting a dramatic turnaround. Usman Tariq (2/31) and Nawaz (2/26) ensured the contest went down to the wire, but Brook’s masterclass ultimately proved decisive.
With this hard-fought win, England advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament, while Pakistan were left to rue missed opportunities despite spirited individual performances in a gripping Super 8 clash.
Brook’s blazing century powers England into T20 World Cup semifinals
