Harry Brook’s Century Powers England into T20 World Cup Semifinals

England sealed a dramatic place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semifinals with a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan in a high-pressure Super Eight clash at Pallekele on Tuesday. Chasing 165 , England’s innings began in turmoil as the top order collapsed to 35/3 and later 58/4 under a fierce spell from Shaheen Shah Afridi (4/30) . Just when the chase appeared to be slipping away, captain Harry Brook delivered an extraordinary rescue act, crafting a superb 100 off 51 balls an innings blending composure, tactical awareness and controlled aggression. His knock, featuring 10 fours and 4 sixes , revived England’s hopes and became one of the most decisive performances of the tournament.

Promoted to No. 3 , Brook built the chase intelligently by targeting Pakistan’s spinners Mohammad Nawaz , Shadab Khan , and Saim Ayub , while rotating strike to keep the scoreboard moving. He frequently converted singles into twos and used precise footwork to manipulate the field. The turning point arrived when he plundered 17 runs in a Nawaz over, shifting momentum firmly in England’s favour. Brook also stitched together a crucial 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Will Jacks (28) , stabilising the innings before the match headed into a nervy finish. England crossed the line with five balls to spare , with Jofra Archer holding his nerve in the closing moments to confirm victory.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 164/9 after opting to bat, with Sahibzada Farhan (63 off 45) anchoring the innings. However, England’s bowlers prevented late acceleration, particularly spinner Liam Dawson (3/24) , whose disciplined spell and key strikes in the 18th over halted Pakistan’s push for a bigger total. Pakistan’s finishing phase lacked momentum, and late tactical decisions, including bowling changes at crucial stages, ultimately proved costly.

The victory made England the first team to qualify for the semifinals of the 2026 T20 World Cup and marked their fifth consecutive appearance in the final four, underlining their sustained dominance in the format. Brook’s century his first T20I hundred also set a record for the highest score by an England captain in T20 World Cup history , highlighting his growing stature as a white-ball leader. For Pakistan, the defeat leaves semifinal hopes hanging by a thread, with qualification now dependent on other results and net run rate .