Harry Brook Century Guides England Past Pakistan into T20 World Cup Semi Finals

Harry Brook delivered one of the most dramatic innings of the tournament as England edged Pakistan by two wickets in a tense Super Eight clash at Pallekele, sealing their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Chasing 165 for victory under lights in Sri Lanka, England looked in deep trouble early on after a devastating spell from Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi. The left arm quick ripped through the top order, removing Phil Salt with the first ball of the innings and then dismissing Jos Buttler to leave England reeling. When Jacob Bethell fell soon after, the scoreboard read 35 for three and Pakistan were firmly in control.

Brook, captaining the side, walked in at number three in a tactical move decided before the match. What followed was a captain’s knock under immense pressure. He counterattacked with composure and authority, striking boundaries square of the wicket and down the ground to wrestle back momentum. Reaching his century in just 50 balls, Brook registered his highest T20 international score, laced with 10 fours and four sixes.

Despite Brook’s dominance, wickets continued to fall at the other end. England slipped to 103 for five, and Pakistan sensed an opening. Afridi returned for a final burst and eventually bowled Brook with the last ball of his spell, finishing with impressive figures and leaving England still needing 10 runs.

The tension rose further when Mohammad Nawaz claimed two wickets in the penultimate over, setting up a nervy finish. With the target within reach but pressure mounting, Jofra Archer stepped up and struck the winning boundary, guiding England home with five balls to spare and sparking celebrations in the stands.

Earlier, Pakistan had chosen to bat first after winning the toss. England’s fielding in the powerplay proved sharp and disciplined, reducing Pakistan to 27 for two. Saim Ayub fell attempting to accelerate, and skipper Salman Agha was dismissed soon after. Babar Azam looked fluent during his brief stay, hitting consecutive boundaries before being bowled as Pakistan struggled to build sustained partnerships.

Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with a well crafted 63 from 45 balls, mixing patience with aggression. He found support from Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, who added valuable runs late on to push Pakistan to 164 for seven. While competitive, the total ultimately proved just short on a surface that offered consistent bounce.

Brook’s match winning effort drew praise from both camps. Pakistan’s captain acknowledged the quality of the innings, admitting that Brook had once again made the difference in a high stakes encounter between the two sides.

With this victory, England advance to the semi finals carrying momentum and renewed belief, while Pakistan’s campaign now hinges on other results in the group.