England secured their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semifinals following a nail-biting two-wicket triumph over Pakistan at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. The victory was largely orchestrated by a spectacular batting performance from captain Harry Brooks, who delivered a match-winning century under intense pressure.
Pakistan posted a competitive total of 164-9 in their allotted 20 overs, with opener Sahibzada Farhan anchoring the innings with a solid 63 from 45 deliveries, featuring seven boundaries and two maximums. Captain Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman contributed 25 runs each to the Pakistani effort. England’s bowling attack demonstrated collective strength, with Liam Dawson emerging as the most effective bowler with figures of 3-24. Barbados-born speedster Jofra Archer made crucial breakthroughs, claiming the wickets of opener Saim Ayub and tailender Shaheen Afridi to finish with 2-32, while Jamie Overton provided additional support with 2-26.
England’s run chase encountered early turbulence as they stumbled to 58-4, creating mounting tension within the camp. However, skipper Harry Brooks transformed the game with a magnificent 100 from just 51 balls, single-handedly steering his team toward victory. His explosive innings included ten fours and four sixes, showcasing remarkable composure and power-hitting prowess. Brooks forged two vital partnerships—first adding 45 runs with Sam Curran (16) and then combining with Will Jacks for a decisive 52-run stand that brought England within striking distance at 155-5 after 17 overs.
Despite a late fightback from Pakistan’s bowlers, with Shaheen Afridi claiming 4-30 and Mohammad Nawaz (2-26) and Usman Tariq (2-31) taking two wickets each, England reached their target of 166-8 with five deliveries remaining. This victory marks England’s second win in the Super Eights stage, guaranteeing their progression to the semifinals with one group match still to play against New Zealand.