T20 World Cup: Harry Brook’s century guides England to thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan

England pulled off a dramatic two-wicket victory over Pakistan, successfully chasing a target of 165 in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. England finished on 166/8 in 19.1 overs, with skipper Harry Brook producing a sensational match-winning century.

Brook anchored the chase with a brilliant 100 off 51 balls, rescuing England after early setbacks. The chase began in disastrous fashion as Phil Salt and Jos Buttler were dismissed for ducks by Shaheen Afridi, leaving England reeling at 0/1 and then 2/2 inside the first over. England slipped further to 58/4, but Brook held firm, stitching crucial partnerships to steady the innings.

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Will Jacks played an important supporting role with 28 off 23 balls, while Sam Curran added 16 off 15 to keep England in touch with the required rate. Brook’s aggressive yet composed innings, marked by powerful strokeplay and smart game awareness, kept England ahead despite wickets falling regularly at the other end.

Pakistan fought back with the ball, with Shaheen Afridi claiming four wickets, while Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq also struck to keep the contest alive deep into the chase. However, England held their nerve in the closing stages, with Jofra Archer hitting the winning runs to seal the chase with five balls to spare.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 164/9 after being sent in to bat. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with a composed 63, anchoring the innings after a steady start alongside Babar Azam. Farhan played the aggressor’s role, while Babar struggled to accelerate, scoring 25 off 24 balls. Fakhar Zaman injected momentum with a brisk 25 off 16 deliveries, but Pakistan failed to fully capitalize on their platform.

The innings unravelled in the final five overs, with Pakistan collapsing from 107/3 in the 14th over to 164/9 at the finish. England’s bowlers tightened the screws at the death, preventing Pakistan from posting a more imposing total.

Liam Dawson was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 3/24, while Jofra Archer (2/32) and Jamie Overton (2/26) provided key breakthroughs. Adil Rashid also chipped in with a wicket as England’s attack shared the spoils.

With this win, England strengthened their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals, while Pakistan’s campaign took a major hit following the narrow defeat.

Captains at toss:

Speaking at the toss, England captain Harry Brook said:

“We would have batted as well. It’s a fresh pitch compared to what we played on a couple of days ago, so hopefully it’s a bit better and gives us a good chance to chase later on. We’re going in with the same team and there’s a lot of confidence in the group. We know we can improve, but the results have been encouraging and we feel a big performance isn’t far away. We’ve done our homework on the opposition, including the unorthodox options like Usman Tariq. There’s plenty of footage and data available, so we’re well prepared. If we win tonight, a semi-final spot is within reach, but T20 cricket can turn quickly. We’ll focus on playing our best cricket and sticking to our processes.”

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha explained his decision to bat first:

“We’re going to bat first. It looks like a good pitch, and we want to put up an above-par score and then try to defend it. It’s our first game of the tournament here in Pallekele, but we’ve been playing most of our cricket in Colombo. Wherever you go, adjusting to conditions is key, and we’ve had to do that quickly after coming back just a couple of days ago. Having said that, conditions across Sri Lanka are generally similar, so we know what to expect today. From the rained-off game, Faheem misses out and Shaheen comes back into the side.”

England vs Pakistan T20 World Cup: Playing XI

Pakistan:

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan(w), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq.

England:

Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.