England Secures Semi-Final Spot with Victory Over Pakistan in T20 World Cup

In a gripping encounter at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, England triumphed over Pakistan by two wickets, securing their place in the semifinals. Captain Harry Brook's remarkable century played a pivotal role in the victory, as he credited head coach Brendon McCullum for his promotion in the batting order. Pakistan, now facing a challenging path to the semifinals, must win their next match against Sri Lanka. This article delves into the match highlights, Brook's reflections, and the implications for both teams in the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 25, 2026, 13:34 IST

England Triumphs Over Pakistan

In a thrilling Super Eight match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 held in Pallekele on Tuesday, England emerged victorious against Pakistan by two wickets, thanks to a stellar performance by captain Harry Brook.

Brook Attributes Success to McCullum's Strategy

During the post-match press conference, Brook expressed gratitude towards head coach Brendon McCullum for promoting him in the batting order. Coming in at number three, Brook scored an impressive 100 runs off just 51 balls, leading England to chase down a target of 165 runs with five balls remaining. "It's Baz (McCullum) who orchestrated this. He discussed with me this morning about moving up the order to maximize our power play, and thankfully it worked out well," Brook stated.

Match Highlights

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first. Sahibzada Farhan was a standout performer, scoring 63 runs off 45 balls, supported by contributions from Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman (25 off 16), and Shadab Khan (23 off 11), leading Pakistan to a total of 164/9. England's bowlers, particularly Liam Dawson (3/24) and Jofra Archer (2/32), delivered exceptional spells.

In response, England faced early challenges as Shaheen Shah Afridi took 4 wickets for 30 runs, leaving them at 58/4. However, Brook's resilience, along with partnerships with Sam Curran (16 off 15) and Will Jacks (28 off 23), secured the win with two wickets and five balls to spare.

Brook Reflects on the Game

Discussing his promotion in the batting order, Brook mentioned, "Partly due to my past performances against Pakistan, but mainly to apply pressure early in the power play. Even with wickets falling, my goal was to keep the pressure on them."

On the victory, he added, "I'm just relieved we won. We felt a bit of pressure towards the end, but I'm quite pleased with the outcome." When asked about his batting position for the remainder of the tournament, Brook replied, "That's something for me and Baz to discuss. The longer I stay at the crease, the better it is for me against their top bowlers."

Implications for the Tournament

Following this match, Pakistan finds itself in a precarious position with only one point from two games, after their opening match against New Zealand was washed out. A win against Sri Lanka in their next game could give them a total of three points, but they will need favorable results from other teams to have a chance at the semifinals.

Meanwhile, England has secured their spot in the semifinals with four points. The focus now shifts to their final Super Eight match against New Zealand on Friday in Colombo, while Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday.