Pallekele: England booked their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in a high-stakes Super 8 encounter. A breathtaking century from captain Harry Brook proved decisive as England chased down a target of 165 in dramatic fashion.
This marks England’s fifth consecutive appearance in a T20 World Cup semi-final, underlining their dominance in the shortest format.
Brook Leads from the Front
Chasing 165, England’s innings got off to a disastrous start. Shaheen Afridi struck with the very first delivery, dismissing Phil Salt. He soon removed Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell as well, reducing England to early trouble.
However, Harry Brook walked in at No. 3 and single-handedly turned the tide. England raced to 53 in the powerplay, with Brook contributing a blistering 41 off just 20 balls.
Brook reached his half-century in 28 deliveries and stitched together crucial partnerships:
- 45 runs off 28 balls with Sam Curran
- 52 runs off 31 balls with Will Jacks
The England captain brought up his century in just 50 balls — the first-ever T20 World Cup hundred by an England captain. His scintillating knock of 100 off 51 balls included 10 fours and 4 sixes. He was dismissed on the very next delivery after reaching the milestone, but the damage had been done.
Late Drama Before Archer Seals It
England appeared comfortable at 155/5, but Pakistan fought back fiercely. The score suddenly slipped to 161/8, setting up a tense finish.
It was Jofra Archer who held his nerve, smashing a boundary off the first ball of the final over to seal victory and spark wild celebrations in the England camp.
Shaheen Afridi finished with four wickets but lacked adequate support from the other bowlers.
Pakistan’s Fightback Falls Short
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings saw a steady recovery after early setbacks. Captain Salman Agha and Saim Ayub fell cheaply, but Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan rebuilt the innings with a 46-run partnership.
Farhan continued his impressive form, scoring 63 off 45 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes), while Babar contributed 25. Fakhar Zaman added a quick 25 off 16 balls.
Late fireworks came from Shadab Khan, who struck 23 off just 11 deliveries, helping Pakistan post 164/9.
For England, Liam Dawson was the standout bowler with 3/24, while Archer and Jamie Overton claimed two wickets apiece.
What It Means
With this victory, England become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Pakistan, meanwhile, remain under pressure in the Super 8 stage with just one point from two matches and face a real threat of elimination.
England’s resilience under pressure and Brook’s masterclass reaffirm their status as one of the tournament favorites — while Pakistan are left to reflect on yet another heartbreak in a high-voltage clash between two cricketing giants.
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