Captain Harry Brook scored his first T20I century to take England into the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a nervy two-wicket win in opposition to Pakistan in Kandy.
Brook, promoted to No 3 for the primary time in a T20I, scored precisely 100 off 51 deliveries as England chased down their goal of 165 with 5 balls to spare, regardless of a late wobble.
After England restricted Pakistan to 164-9, Brook got here in second ball of the innings with the rating 0-1 after Phil Salt’s golden duck, caught behind off Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Wickets tumbled within the powerplay however Brook stood agency.
He lifted his facet from a precarious 35-3 to 155-6 when he was dismissed, having scored the second quickest century in T20 World Cup historical past and the primary by a workforce captain.
Brook hit 4 sixes and 10 fours, surpassing his earlier finest T20I rating of 81 not out in opposition to Pakistan in Karachi 4 years in the past.
He went to the landmark in model, powering Afridi for a six and 4 to finish his century off 50 balls earlier than being bowled by the left-arm fast subsequent ball.
Skipper Harry Brook’s sensational #T20WorldCup ton guides England into the semi-finals with an exhilarating win over Pakistan 👏
📝: https://t.co/iXaHhtdhHv pic.twitter.com/8SFMsUHNX4
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 24, 2026
Afridi, returning to the facet, took 4-30 additionally eradicating Jos Buttler for 2 and Jacob Bethell for eight within the powerplay.
Brook added 45 for the fifth wicket with Sam Curran (16) and even a burst of two wickets from Usman Tariq didn’t perturb the England skipper who batted with guts and resolve.
Will Jacks helped his captain in direction of victory with a superb stand of 52, scoring 28 off 23 balls.
Spinner Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Jacks and Jamie Overton within the penultimate over to induce some late nerves, however Jofra Archer hit the primary ball of the ultimate over for the successful 4.
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The defeat leaves Pakistan needing to beat Sri Lanka on Saturday and hope different outcomes go their method to attain the final 4 after their first match within the Tremendous Eights in opposition to New Zealand was washed out.
New Zealand face Sri Lanka on Wednesday in Colombo.
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Spinner Liam Dawson took 3-24 earlier and was ably supported by Overton (2-26) and Archer (2-32) to limit Pakistan to 164-9.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan continued his good kind with a 45-ball 63, with two sixes and 7 fours, his third half-century of the match.
Archer dismissed Saim Ayub for seven within the third over whereas Dawson picked up Salman Agha for 5 within the subsequent.
Farhan and Babar Azam added 46 for the third wicket.
Farhan accomplished his fifty off 37 balls earlier than Overton trapped him lbw.
– AFP
Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Photos
