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Harry Brook’s Miraculous 100 Snatches Victory from Pakistan; England Storms into Semi-Finals
Summary: From 12/4 to a historic Semi-Final spot! Witness how Harry Brook’s "Innings of the Decade" single-handedly shattered Pakistan’s bowling and their World Cup dreams in a Pallekele thriller.
Pallekele, February 24: In what will be remembered as one of the greatest rescue acts in T20 history, England captain Harry Brook smashed a breathtaking century to guide his team to a 2-wicket win over Pakistan. With this victory, England has officially secured its place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, while Pakistan’s hopes now hang by a microscopic thread.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Pakistan’s innings was a story of one-man resistance. Sahibzada Farhan continued his red-hot form, scoring a classy 63 off 45 balls. While Babar Azam (25) and Fakhar Zaman (25) provided support, England’s spin duo of Liam Dawson (3/24) and Adil Rashid kept the runs in check. A late flourish by Shadab Khan (23 off 11) pushed Pakistan to 164/9, a total that looked competitive on a gripping Pallekele surface.
The chase began like a horror movie for England. Shaheen Shah Afridi, back to his terrifying best, removed Phil Salt for a golden duck and followed it up by dismissing Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell. At 12/4, the English dugout looked shell-shocked. It seemed Pakistan was on the verge of a historic blowout victory.
Promoted to No. 3, Harry Brook played an innings of pure "fearless cricket." While wickets tumbled at the other end, Brook dismantled the Pakistani attack with surgical precision.
Supported by Will Jacks (28), Brook took the game deep. Even after his dismissal in the 18th over, Jofra Archer held his nerve to strike the winning boundary with 5 balls remaining.
Q1: How can Pakistan still qualify for the Semi-Finals?
Pakistan must defeat Sri Lanka in their final game and hope New Zealand loses both of their remaining matches. If NZ wins one, it will come down to a Net Run Rate (NRR) battle.
Q2: What record did Harry Brook break today?
Brook became the first English captain to score a T20I century and joined the elite club of English players with centuries in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Q3: Who is the Player of the Match?
England captain Harry Brook for his match-winning 100 off 51 balls.
The Setup: Pakistan’s Gritty 164
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Pakistan’s innings was a story of one-man resistance. Sahibzada Farhan continued his red-hot form, scoring a classy 63 off 45 balls. While Babar Azam (25) and Fakhar Zaman (25) provided support, England’s spin duo of Liam Dawson (3/24) and Adil Rashid kept the runs in check. A late flourish by Shadab Khan (23 off 11) pushed Pakistan to 164/9, a total that looked competitive on a gripping Pallekele surface.
The Shaheen Afridi Destruction
The chase began like a horror movie for England. Shaheen Shah Afridi, back to his terrifying best, removed Phil Salt for a golden duck and followed it up by dismissing Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell. At 12/4, the English dugout looked shell-shocked. It seemed Pakistan was on the verge of a historic blowout victory.
The Brook Show: A Captain’s Masterclass
Promoted to No. 3, Harry Brook played an innings of pure "fearless cricket." While wickets tumbled at the other end, Brook dismantled the Pakistani attack with surgical precision.
- The Stats: 100 Runs | 51 Balls | 10 Fours | 4 Sixes
- The Impact: He became the first England captain to score a T20I century and only the third Englishman to score hundreds in all three formats.
Supported by Will Jacks (28), Brook took the game deep. Even after his dismissal in the 18th over, Jofra Archer held his nerve to strike the winning boundary with 5 balls remaining.
Super 8 Group 2 Points Table
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | Pts | NRR | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.491 | Semi-Finals |
| 2 | New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | In contention |
| 3 | Pakistan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -0.461 | Must win & pray |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2.550 | Must win big |
FAQs: ENG vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026
Q1: How can Pakistan still qualify for the Semi-Finals?
Pakistan must defeat Sri Lanka in their final game and hope New Zealand loses both of their remaining matches. If NZ wins one, it will come down to a Net Run Rate (NRR) battle.
Q2: What record did Harry Brook break today?
Brook became the first English captain to score a T20I century and joined the elite club of English players with centuries in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Q3: Who is the Player of the Match?
England captain Harry Brook for his match-winning 100 off 51 balls.
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