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KANDY: Skipper Harry Brook’s sublime century powered sloppy England to a two-wicket win over Pakistan in the Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Set a stiff 165, England chipped away towards the target despite a stutter in the last over, losing eight wickets in the process.
With this win, England qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-final.
England were off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets inside the first five overs. Shaheen Afridi sent back Phil Salt for a duck in the first over. Soon after, Jos Buttler also fell, whose horror run continued in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell fell prey to Shaheen Afridi on eight despite providing relief in the previous over.
The wicket-keeper only managed two from three balls. As a result, England were reduced to 35-3 in 4.5 overs.
With the side in early trouble, Harry Brook launched a rescue act for the ages, holding the innings together with a string of partnerships alongside the middle-order.
Despite the wickets tumbling around him, Brook made the chase look easy with elegant stroke play.
Brook shepherd 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, Sahibzada Farhan’s gutsy half-century lifted Pakistan to a fighting total against England.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan managed to score 164-9 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan were jolted with an early blow in the shape of Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha’s dismissal.
Saim was caught at short mid-wicket in a bid to pull Jofra Archer. He only made seven. While skipper Salman fell cheaply to Liam Dawson after managing five.
As a result, the Green Shirts were pegged back with two down for 27 in 3.3 overs.
Following the hiccup, Babar Azam and Sahizada Farhan held the innings together with a 46-run stand. The pair stabilized the innings and brought the scorecard to 73 in 10.5 overs.
Jamie Overton ended the threatening stand with Babar’s wicket, who chopped on after a cautious knock of 25 from 24 with the aid of two fours.
Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan continued and struck a partnership with Rusty Fakhar Zaman after chewing up a few deliveries.
Both added 49 off 30 balls for the fourth wicket partnership, bringing the total to 112 in 15.4 overs.
Farhan, who was going well, was trapped lbw after hitting a six and a four to Overton. He made 63 off 45, including two sixes and seven fours.
Following his wicket, England got hold of the Pakistan innings with a few quick wickets. As a result, they slumped to 132-5 149-8 in 18.3 overs.
Shadab Khan played a vital knock of 23 from 11 with the aid of four boundaries to take Pakistan’s score to 164.
For England, Liam Dawson picked up three wickets in his four overs.
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