Sahibzada Farhan’s 63 guides Pakistan to 164-9, but England chase it down with five balls to spare
England captain Harry Brook (L) celebrates his half-century (50 runs) as Pakistan’s Saim Ayub (R) looks on during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between England and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 24, 2026. Photo: AFP
Captain Harry Brook’s explosive century helped England edge past Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling T20 World Cup Super Eight clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, effectively ending the Green Shirts’ semi-final hopes.
Pakistan posted a below-par total of 164-9, thanks to an in-form Sahibzada Farhan’s half-century, after yet another batting collapse. England struggled in their chase early on, following a fiery spell from Shaheen Shah Afridi, but Brook stood firm and single-handedly guided his side to victory with a maiden T20I century, securing England’s place in the semi-finals.
England’s chase got off to the worst possible start as in-form Phil Salt fell on the very first ball. Attempting to play an inswinger, Salt edged the ball to the wicketkeeper Usman Khan, who held on without error.
England’s Phil Salt (2L) walks back after getting out as Pakistan’s players celebrate during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between England and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 24, 2026. Photo: AFP
Afridi struck again in the second over, dismissing former England captain Jos Buttler. Usman once more held a tidy catch, reducing the visitors to 17-2.
Jacob Bethell briefly offered hope after surviving a dropped catch off Saim Ayub at short fine leg. However, he failed to capitalise as Afridi came back to remove the southpaw, with Farhan taking a stunning catch at deep square leg.
After the powerplay, England captain Brook took charge, smashing Mohammad Nawaz for 17 runs as the visitors reached their half-century in the seventh over.
England’s Will Jacks (L) and captain Harry Brook gesture during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between England and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 24, 2026. Photo: AFP
Amid the flow of runs, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha turned to mystery spinner Usman Tariq, and the move paid off immediately. Tariq removed Tom Banton with the very first ball, handing England their fourth setback.
However, Brook, the linchpin of their batting, continued his explosive form, reaching a half-century off just 28 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes.
Rampant Brook continued his hard-hitting, but Sam Curran, who had added 45 runs with his captain, perished for 16 off 15 balls while attempting a boundary over deep mid-wicket. Nawaz held a straightforward catch, leaving England five down.
Brook continued his fiery form, scoring his first T20I century off just 50 balls and forging a match-winning 52-run partnership with Will Jacks. The England captain, who struck 10 fours and four sixes, was dismissed off the very next ball after reaching his century off Afridi, but by then England needed just 10 runs from three overs.
Jacks made a quickfire 28 off 23 balls but fell short of finishing the game, while Jamie Overton also departed without scoring, adding late drama to the innings.
England finally crossed the line as Jofra Archer struck a boundary off the first ball of the final over, sealing a two-wicket victory and securing their place in the semi-finals.
Afridi was the standout bowler, taking four wickets for 30 runs, while Usman Tariq and Nawaz claimed two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Farhan’s half-century helped Pakistan post 164-9 after their batting crumbled once again.
Having won the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first, but the decision failed to yield the desired start. Opener Saim Ayub continued his lean patch with the bat, departing for just seven runs off as many deliveries, leaving the Green Shirts under early pressure.
The situation worsened in the following over when captain Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for a solitary run by England spinner Liam Dawson. At 27-2, Pakistan found themselves struggling to gain momentum.
In a bid to stabilise the innings, Babar Azam joined Farhan at the crease. The pair stitched together a 46-run partnership but found scoring difficult against England’s disciplined spin attack.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam (C) walks back after getting out during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between England and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 24, 2026. Photo: AFP
Babar, despite striking a few boundaries, never appeared fully settled at the crease. His resistance was eventually broken when Jamie Overton rattled his stumps, further compounding Pakistan’s woes.
Amid the setbacks, Farhan stood firm. The tournament’s highest run-scorer continued to anchor the innings and brought up yet another half-century, attempting to consolidate Pakistan’s position.
The opener struck a fluent 63 off 43 deliveries, smashing seven fours and two sixes, before being trapped leg-before-wicket by Overton at a crucial juncture, as Pakistan attempted to accelerate in the death overs.
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between England and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 24, 2026. Photo: AFP
As soon as Farhan departed, Pakistan’s middle order began to crumble. Fakhar Zaman, featuring in his first outing of the tournament, showed intent at the crease. However, after dispatching Rashid for a towering six, he perished in an attempt to clear the ropes once again, offering a simple catch at point and leaving Pakistan five down.
England tightened their grip in the 18th over when Dawson struck twice in successive deliveries. Usman Khan’s stay at the crease proved short-lived as he managed just eight runs, while Nawaz was adjudged lbw off the very first ball he faced, reducing Pakistan to 147-7.
Afridi also failed to make an impact, departing for just two. However, a quickfire 23 off 11 deliveries from Shadab Khan in the closing overs provided late impetus, lifting Pakistan to 164-9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Dawson was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets for just 24 runs, while Overton and Jofra Archer picked up two wickets apiece.
