England sealed a dramatic two-wicket win over Pakistan in a nail-biting Super Eight encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, on Tuesday, booking their place in the tournament’s semi-finals.
Chasing a competitive target of 165 runs, England crossed the line with five balls to spare despite losing eight wickets. Skipper Harry Brook delivered a sensational captain’s knock, smashing a brilliant century to anchor the innings and guide his team to victory.
Pakistan made early inroads as Shaheen Shah Afridi struck three times inside the powerplay, removing Phil Salt, Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell cheaply, leaving England reeling at 35 for 3. However, Brook held firm and stitched vital partnerships with Tom Banton, Sam Curran and Will Jacks to steady the chase.
Brook top-scored with a superb 100 off 51 balls, featuring 10 boundaries and four towering sixes, earning him the Player of the Match award. Will Jacks added a crucial 28, while Jofra Archer sealed the win with a boundary in the final over.
Earlier, Pakistan posted 164 for 9 after opting to bat first. Opener Farhan led the scoring with a composed 63 off 45 balls, supported by Fakhar Zaman’s quick 25 and Shadab Khan’s late cameo of 23. For England, Liam Dawson starred with the ball, claiming three wickets for 24 runs, while Archer and Jamie Overton chipped in with two wickets each.
With this victory, England maintained their unbeaten run in the Super Eights and became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals, sitting comfortably at the top of Group 2 with four points.
