England Edge Pakistan by Two Wickets as Harry Brook’s Century Seals T20 World Cup Semifinal Spot

Pallekele, Sri Lanka: England became the first team to qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals after a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan in their Super Eight clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Captain Harry Brook struck a composed yet commanding century to steer England to a 165-run target in 19.1 overs, overcoming early setbacks and a late wobble. The win takes England to four points from two Super Eight matches, while Pakistan remain stranded on one point and on the brink of elimination.

Brook Anchors England’s Nervy Chase

England’s chase began disastrously when Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Phil Salt off the first ball of the innings. The left-arm quick struck again in his second over, removing former captain Jos Buttler, as Pakistan seized early control.

Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton followed soon after, leaving England reeling against Pakistan’s disciplined attack.

Brook, however, absorbed the pressure. Mixing calculated aggression with smart strike rotation, he rebuilt the innings alongside all-rounder Will Jacks, who contributed 28 crucial runs in a 52-run partnership that steadied the chase.

Brook brought up a sublime century under mounting pressure, but his dismissal soon after reaching three figures triggered a brief collapse that reopened the contest. Pakistan sensed an opportunity before Jofra Archer struck a boundary off the first ball of the 20th over to seal victory.

Pakistan Post Competitive 164 but Fall Short

Earlier, Pakistan posted 164 for 9, a total that looked competitive on a surface offering assistance to bowlers.

Sahibzada Farhan continued his impressive tournament form with 63 off 45 balls, anchoring the innings. He found brief support from Babar Azam, who scored 25, while Fakhar Zaman (25) and Shadab Khan (23) added vital runs late to push Pakistan beyond the 160-mark in a must-win encounter.

England’s bowling attack shared the workload effectively. Spinner Liam Dawson returned figures of 3 for 24 in four overs, while pacers Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton claimed two wickets each to restrict Pakistan’s acceleration in the death overs.

What This Means for Group 2

With two wins from two Super Eight matches, England have secured a semifinal berth and will face New Zealand in their final group fixture on Friday.

Pakistan’s path to qualification now hinges on a sequence of favorable results. They must hope Sri Lanka defeat New Zealand convincingly to dent the Kiwis’ net run rate, while England would need to repeat the damage. Pakistan would then have to beat Sri Lanka in their final match to keep their campaign alive.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand meet in the next Group 2 fixture on Wednesday, a match that could effectively determine Pakistan’s fate.

For now, England march on with momentum — four wins in their last four matches — while Pakistan confront a familiar equation: survival dependent not just on performance, but on permutations.