Tuesday 24 / February / 2026
PALLEKELE, SRI LANKA: England became the first team to seal their semi-final spot at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as they edged past Pakistan by two wickets in Kandy on Tuesday. England captain Harry Brook rose to the occasion, hoisting his first T20I hundred to guide his team to win.
Chasing a modest target of 165, England looked in trouble at 58/4. But Brook scored 100 off 51 deliveries, including ten fours and four sixes, as the former champions reached the finish line in 19.1 overs. Put into field, England made a strong start, reducing their rivals to 27/2 inside the first four overs. Saim Ayub was undone by Jofra Archer’s pace and bounce, while captain Salman Agha fell to left-arm spinner Liam Dawson.
Farhan steadied the innings with a 46-run partnership with Babar Azam (25), and a 49-run stand with Fakhar Zaman (25).
The first six of the Pakistan innings came in the 14th over when Farhan swept Will Jacks for a big hit. Farhan brought up his half-century in 37 balls and once again held the innings together. He finished with 63 off 45 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.
Pakistan’s attempts to accelerate towards the end were thwarted as they lost a clutch of wickets. Starting with Farhan, they slipped from 122/4 to 149/8. The English pacers were on target on Tuesday, as Archer and Overton finished with two wickets apiece. Dawson unsettled Pakistan, claiming 3/24 in his four overs.
Defending an under-par score in Pallekele, Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan the perfect start by dismissing the in-form Phil Salt off the first ball of the innings.
Dropped from the playing XI in the previous match, Afridi marked his return with a delivery that angled across the right-handed Salt, who nicked it to wicket-keeper Usman Khan. Afridi sent back Jos Buttler back in similar fashion, and then had Jacob Bethell miscue a shot square of the wicket, which Farhan caught superbly.
England ended the powerplay at 53/3. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq struck on the first ball, having Tom Banton caught behind.
After the early fall of wickets, Brook, who was promoted to No 3 in the line-up, steadied the innings with Sam Curran, forming a 45-run partnership.
While he ran hard between the wickets, Brook also chose his moments well, punishing every loose ball that came his way. It was just the kind of common sense batting England needed to dig out of trouble.
Brook’s 52-run partnership with Will Jacks took the game away from Pakistan. The England captain brought up his first T20I hundred in style, punching a six over cover and following it up with a four through mid-off.
When Brook was dismissed, England were already on the brink of victory at 155/6. But they lost three wickets in the space of six runs, injecting some late drama into the match. Going into the last over, England needed three runs, with two wickets in hand. Archer avoided any more delay by pulling through mid-wicket for a four.
Brief scores: Pakistan 164/9 (Sahibzada Farhan 63, Babar Azam 25, Fakhar Zaman 25; Jofra Archer 2/32, Jamie Overton 2/26, Liam Dawson 3/25) lost to England 166/8 in 19.1 overs (Harry Brook 100, Will Jacks 28; Shaheen Afridi 4/30, Mohammad Nawaz 2/26, Usman Tariq 2/31).
