Harry Brook etched his name into T20 World Cup history in Pallekele, becoming the first captain ever to score a century in the tournament and steering England into the 2026 semifinals. His commanding 100 powered England to a nervy two-wicket win over Pakistan in a chase of 165 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, sealing qualification with five balls to spare and leaving Pakistan’s campaign hanging by a thread.
While the returning Shaheen Afridi delivered a four-wicket haul to keep Pakistan competitive, Brook’s extraordinary knock ensured England crossed the line despite a chaotic finish.
Pakistan’s Solid but Insufficient Total
On another surface conducive to spin, Pakistan opted to bat first, aiming to post a competitive total. Early setbacks once again placed the burden on Sahibzada Farhan, their most consistent performer in the tournament.
Saim Ayub miscued a pull off Jofra Archer, while Salman Agha fell to Liam Dawson soon after. That brought Babar Azam to the crease at No. 4 with an opportunity to anchor. Farhan, however, dominated the Powerplay, collecting boundaries off Archer, Jamie Overton and Dawson. Babar briefly looked fluent, striking Archer for consecutive fours, but post-Powerplay spin pressure stalled his momentum.
Adil Rashid, who has frequently troubled Babar, once again forced hesitation. Babar’s 25 off 24 deliveries ended when he attempted an expansive slog off Overton and was bowled. Pakistan risked losing control at that juncture, but Fakhar Zaman injected urgency.
Farhan and Zaman targeted Will Jacks, each clearing the ropes, and Farhan raised yet another half-century. At 112 for 3 after 15 overs, Pakistan appeared poised for a strong finish. But Overton returned with a fuller delivery that trapped Farhan plumb in front, halting the acceleration.
Despite Rashid conceding two sixes in one over, England’s bowlers maintained discipline. Dawson’s 3 for 24 was particularly influential, applying the brakes during a critical middle phase. Shadab Khan’s late contributions pushed Pakistan to 164 for 9 — competitive on a slow pitch, though dew later softened its sting.
Afridi’s Fiery Powerplay
Pakistan could hardly have scripted a better start with the ball. Afridi struck with the first delivery, dismissing Phil Salt for a golden duck. Jos Buttler’s lean run persisted as he feathered an under-edge to the keeper. Jacob Bethell followed cheaply, leaving England reeling at 58 for 4 when Usman Tariq struck in his first over.
Amid the collapse, Brook was already counterpunching.
Promoting himself to No. 3, Harry Brook scored 41 in the Powerplay alone. He opened with a boundary and a six off Salman Mirza and exploited fielding restrictions by targeting Mohammad Nawaz. His footwork against spin was decisive, frequently getting to the pitch and hitting through the line.
A Captain’s Statement
With wickets tumbling around him, Brook recalibrated from aggression to calculated control. He managed risk efficiently against Tariq while dismantling other spin options. Sam Curran’s dismissal briefly revived Pakistan’s hopes, but Will Jacks redeemed himself by striking early boundaries that eased pressure.
When Salman Agha turned to Afridi for a final over in search of a breakthrough, Brook responded emphatically — stepping down the track to launch him over wide long-on before reaching his century with a boundary. It was his maiden T20I hundred and a landmark moment in World Cup history.
Afridi did remove Brook the very next ball with a pinpoint yorker, but England required only 10 more runs. The equation was in their favour, even if the nerves were not.
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A Frantic Finish
England nearly squandered control. Reckless strokes and poor decision-making saw wickets fall unnecessarily, dragging the contest into the 20th over with three runs still required and only two wickets in hand.
Ultimately, Archer settled the tension, pulling the first ball of the over to the boundary to complete the chase at 166 for 8 in 19.1 overs.
Tactical Implications
England’s victory underscores several themes:
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Leadership under pressure: Brook’s tactical promotion and tempo control were decisive.
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Spin management: England handled spin better than in previous fixtures.
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Depth in batting: Even at 58 for 4, their lineup retained enough firepower to sustain the chase.
For Pakistan, the loss highlights familiar issues:
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Overreliance on Farhan at the top.
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Inconsistent middle-order strike rates.
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Inability to close out matches despite strong new-ball bursts.
The result makes England the first team to confirm a semifinal berth in the 2026 T20 World Cup, while Pakistan now depend on permutations and favourable outcomes elsewhere.