England became the first team to seal their semi-final spot at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as they defeated Pakistan by two wickets at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. It is the fifth successive time that England are making the final four at the T20 World Cup.
It was England captain Harry Brook who rose to the occasion, hoisting his first T20I hundred to guide his team to victory. He also became the first captain to score a hundred in T20 World Cup history.
Chasing a modest target of 165, England looked in trouble at 58/4. But Brook scored 100 off 51 deliveries, with the help of ten fours and four sixes, as the former champions got across the finish line in 19.1 overs.
With four points in two matches, England have qualified through Group 2, while Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will battle for the only remaining semi-final spot.
Put into field, England made a strong start, reducing their rivals to 27/2 inside the first four overs. While Saim Ayub was undone by Jofra Archer’s pace and bounce, captain Salman Agha fell to left-arm spinner Liam Dawson.
Farhan steadied the innings with a 46-run partnership with Babar Azam (25), and a 49-run stand with Fakhar Zaman (25).
The first six of the Pakistan innings came in the 14th over, as Farhan swept Will Jacks for a big hit. Farhan brought up his half-century in 37 balls and once again held the innings together. He finished with 63 off 45 balls, with the help of seven fours and two sixes.
Pakistan’s attempts to accelerate towards the end were thwarted as they lost a clutch of wickets. Starting with Farhan, they slipped from 122/4 to 149/8.
The English pacers were on target on Tuesday, as Archer and Overton finished with two wickets apiece. It was Dawson who unsettled Pakistan, claiming 3/24 in his four overs.
Defending an under-par score in Kandy, Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan the perfect start as he dismissed the in-form Phil Salt off the first ball of the innings.
Dropped from the playing XI in the previous match, Afridi marked his return with a delivery that angled across the right-handed Salt, who nicked it to wicket-keeper Usman Khan. Afridi sent back Jos Buttler back in similar fashion, and then had Jacob Bethell miscuing a shot square of the wicket that was caught superbly by Farhan.
England ended powerplay on 53/3. Like Afridi, mystery spinner Usman Tariq struck on the first ball, as he had Tom Banton caught behind.
After the early fall of wickets, Brook, who was promoted to No 3 in the line-up, steadied the innings, along with Sam Curran, with a 45-run partnership. While he ran hard between the wickets, Brook also chose his moments well, punishing every loose ball that came his way. It was just the kind of common sense batting England needed to dig out of trouble.
Brook’s 52-run partnership with Will Jacks that took the game away from Pakistan. The England captain brought up his first T20I hundred in style, punching a six over cover and following it up with a four through mid-off.
When Brook was dismissed, England were already on brink of victory, at 155/6. But they lost three wickets in the space of six runs to inject some late drama into the match. Going into the last over, England needed three runs, with two wickets in hand. Archer avoided any more delay, as he pulled through mid-wicket for a four.
Afridi was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, finishing with 4/30 in four overs while Tariq and Mohammad Nawaz claimed two wickets each.
- Agencies
