England Beat Pakistan by Two Wickets to Secure T20 World Cup Semi-Final Spot
England became the first team to secure a semi-final spot at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, defeating Pakistan by two wickets at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy. This marks the fifth consecutive T20 World Cup in which England have reached the final four.
Captain Harry Brook was the star of the match, scoring his first T20I hundred to guide England to victory and becoming the first captain in T20 World Cup history to score a hundred.
Chasing a target of 165, England looked in trouble at 58/4. Brook steadied the innings with a 100 off 51 balls, including ten fours and four sixes, as England crossed the finish line in 19.1 overs.
With four points from two matches, England has qualified from Group 2, leaving Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand to contest the final semi-final spot.
Match Highlights
- England’s bowlers made a strong start, reducing Pakistan to 27/2 in four overs.
- Farhan anchored Pakistan’s innings with 63 off 45 balls, including a 46-run partnership with Babar Azam and a 49-run stand with Fakhar Zaman.
- Pakistan’s late push fell short as they lost key wickets, sliding from 122/4 to 149/8.
Bowling heroics for England:
- Jofra Archer and Craig Overton took two wickets each.
- Liam Dawson claimed 3/24, keeping Pakistan under pressure.
Early Pakistan breakthroughs:
- Shaheen Afridi dismissed Phil Salt with the first ball and also claimed Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell cheaply.
- Mystery spinner Usman Tariq struck in his first over, removing Tom Banton.
Brook’s partnerships turned the match:
- 45-run stand with Sam Curran
- 52-run partnership with Will Jacks, taking England to victory.
England survived late drama, needing three runs from the last over with two wickets in hand. Archer secured the win with a boundary through mid-wicket.
Pick of the Pakistan bowlers: Shaheen Afridi 4/30, with Tariq and Mohammad Nawaz claiming two wickets each.
