Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup 2026: Brook's Historic Hundred Knocks Pakistan Out
In a high-stakes Super 8 encounter of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, England defeated Pakistan by two wickets in a pulsating clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Chasing a target of 165, England rode on a sensational captain's knock from Harry Brook, who scored a historic century, to become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals . The win dealt a severe blow to Pakistan's hopes of progressing in the tournament .
Match Summary: England Seal Semi-Final Berth in Thriller
Player of the Match: Harry Brook (England) for his match-winning 100 off 51 balls .
Key Performers: Sahibzada Farhan 63 (45) for Pakistan; Shaheen Shah Afridi 4/30 for Pakistan .
Toss and Team News: Pakistan Bat First on Fresh Pitch
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bat first on what he described as a "good pitch," aiming to put an above-par score on the board . The Pakistan think-tank made one change to their playing XI, bringing back pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi in place of all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, a move predicted by experts to target England's top order . England, confident after their win against Sri Lanka, named an unchanged side for the fifth consecutive match .
England skipper Harry Brook mentioned that he would have also batted first, hoping the "fresh pitch" would offer good chasing conditions later in the evening .
Pakistan's Innings: Farhan's Gritty Fifty Anchors Total
The decision to bat first looked shaky as Pakistan's top order crumbled under pressure from England's disciplined attack, but a resilient knock from the tournament's leading run-scorer helped them post a competitive total.
Early Jitters and a Crucial Partnership
Jofra Archer drew first blood, dismissing the out-of-form Saim Ayub (7) with a sharp bouncer . The situation worsened for the Green Shirts when captain Salman Agha (5) holed out against spinner Liam Dawson in his very first over, leaving Pakistan reeling at 27/2 .
However, Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam steadied the ship with a vital 46-run partnership. While Babar looked composed during his 25 off 24 balls, he never fully broke the shackles before being castled by a brilliant delivery from Jamie Overton .
Farhan's Masterclass and a Late Collapse
Sahibzada Farhan continued his sensational form, anchoring the innings with a fluent 63 runs off just 45 deliveries, laced with seven fours and two sixes . His knock was crucial in providing stability. During his innings, Farhan also etched his name in the record books:
He became the Pakistani batter with the most sixes (13) in a single T20 World Cup edition .
He became only the second Pakistani batter, after Babar Azam in 2021, to register three or more 50-plus scores in a single T20 World Cup edition .
Just as Pakistan looked to accelerate, Farhan fell LBW to Overton in the 16th over . His departure triggered another collapse. Fakhar Zaman (25) showed intent but fell to Adil Rashid, and Liam Dawson struck twice in the 18th over to remove Usman Khan and Mohammad Nawaz in consecutive balls . A late cameo from Shadab Khan (23 off 11 balls) propelled Pakistan to a final total of 164/9 .
England's Bowling Performance
Liam Dawson was the pick of the bowlers for England, claiming exceptional figures of 3/24 in his four overs . Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer chipped in with two wickets apiece, ensuring Pakistan couldn't break free in the death overs .
| Team | Score | Overs | Innings Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 164/9 | 20 | Sahibzada Farhan 63 (43); L. Dawson 3/24 |
| England | 166/8 | 19.1 | Harry Brook 100 (51); S. Afridi 4/30 |
England's Chase: Brook's Heroics Trump Shaheen's Fireworks
England's chase of 165 was a tale of two stunning performances—first, Shaheen Afridi's fiery spell with the new ball, and then, a captain's knock of unparalleled class from Harry Brook.
Shaheen's Dream Start Rocks England
If Pakistan needed a dream start with the ball, Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered exactly that. In a sensational opening spell, he:
Dismissed Phil Salt for a golden duck with the very first ball of the innings, becoming the first Pakistani bowler to strike with the first ball of a T20 World Cup innings .
Removed Jos Buttler for 2, inducing a faint nick with subtle movement .
Bounced out Jacob Bethell for 8 with a well-directed short ball .
His three early strikes left England reeling at 35/3 inside the Powerplay . At that point, Pakistan had one foot on England's throat. Shaheen's figures of 4/30 also saw him overtake Haris Rauf to become Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket .
The Brook Counter-Attack
Just when things were slipping away, England skipper Harry Brook stood up. He counter-attacked like a man on a mission, showing no panic. He found a brief partner in Sam Curran (16) and then stitched a crucial 52-run partnership with Will Jacks (28), bringing England back firmly into the contest .
With the required rate under control, Brook brought up a sensational century off just 51 balls, smashing 10 fours and 4 sixes . In doing so, he etched his name in history:
He became the first captain to score a century in a Men's T20 World Cup match .
His 50-ball hundred is the joint third-fastest in T20 World Cup history .
He became the first England men's captain to score a T20I century .
Late Drama and England's Nerve
Just when England looked set for a comfortable finish, Pakistan struck back with a flurry of late wickets. Brook fell immediately after completing his hundred, bowled by a yorker from Shaheen . Will Jacks followed soon after, and Jamie Overton was stumped, giving Pakistan a faint glimmer of hope .
However, by then the equation had tilted heavily in England's favour. With only 4 runs needed off the final over and two wickets in hand, Jofra Archer smashed a boundary off the first ball to see England home despite the late drama .
Match Context and Tournament Implications
This Super 8 clash was a virtual knockout for Pakistan. After their opening match against New Zealand was washed out, this defeat has left their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread. They will now need to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super 8 match and hope other results go their way .
England, on the other hand, secured their second consecutive win in the Super 8s, becoming the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup .
Key Records and Milestones from the Match
Harry Brook's 100 is the first century by a captain in Men's T20 World Cup history .
Shaheen Afridi (4/30) became Pakistan's leading wicket-taker in T20Is .
Sahibzada Farhan now holds the record for most sixes (13) by a Pakistani in a single T20 World Cup .
The match aggregate of 330 runs is the highest ever in a Men's T20 World Cup clash between England and Pakistan .
Shaheen Afridi now holds the record for most wickets in Powerplay overs in T20 World Cups .
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