Brook hits ton as England qualify for T20 World Cup semis

Captain Harry Brook struck a nerveless century to propel England to a dramatic two-wicket victory over Pakistan in a high-stakes Super Eights match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The win, England’s second in as many Super Eights outings, made them the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 20-team tournament and cemented top spot in Group 2 with four points.

Chasing a challenging 165, the two-time champions reached the target with eight wickets down and five balls to spare, riding on Brook’s captain’s knock of 100 from 51 balls, laced with 10 fours and four sixes.

England were rocked early by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who tore through the top order to dismiss Phil Salt (0), Jos Buttler (2) and Jacob Bethell (8) inside five overs, leaving England reeling at 35-3.

Brook stood firm, shepherding the chase with measured stands alongside Tom Banton and Sam Curran, adding 23 and 45 runs respectively. He later found crucial support from Will Jacks, the pair putting on 52 for the sixth wicket to wrest control from Pakistan.

Afridi returned to end Brook’s innings on the final ball of the 17th over, but England held their nerve. Jacks fell for 28 to Mohammad Nawaz, who also had Jamie Overton stumped in the same over to set up a tense finish.

Needing three from the final over with two wickets in hand, Jofra Archer struck Salman Mirza for a boundary off the first ball to clinch victory.

Afridi was Pakistan’s standout bowler with 4-30, while Usman Tariq Nawaz claimed two wickets.

Earlier, spinner Liam Dawson took three wickets as England restricted Pakistan to 164-9 in their Super Eights clash in Kandy on Tuesday after Sahibzada Farhan made 63.

Dawson grabbed 3-24 and was ably supported by Jamie Overton (2-26) and Jofra Archer (2-32) after Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat on a flat pitch.

Opener Farhan continued his good form with a 45-ball 63, with two sixes and sevens fours, his third half-century of the tournament.

Pakistan failed to lift the tempo as England, who will qualify for the semi-final with a win, kept the pressure on with regular wickets.

Archer dismissed Saim Ayub for seven in the third over while Dawson picked up Salman Agha for five in the next.

Farhan and Babar Azam added 46 for the third wicket before Overton bowled Azam for a snail-paced 24-ball 25 in the 11th over.

Farhan completed his fifty off 37 balls before Overton trapped him lbw.

Fakhar Zaman chipped in with a 16-ball 25 with two sixes while Shadab Khan remained unbeaten on 23.

England beat Sri Lanka in their first Super Eights clash while Pakistan’s match against New Zealand was washed out.