T20 World Cup 2026: Brilliant Harry Brook scores sensational century as England defeat Pakistan to book semi-final place
By Tom Masters
Updated 24/02/2026 at 17:55 GMT
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Harry Brook scored a sensational century to see England to a two-wicket victory over Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in Pallekele. Brook was one of only three England players to reach double-figures, alongside Sam Curran and Will Jacks as wickets fell around him, but the England skipper came in at No.3 and put his side into the semi-finals with a Super 8s match, against New Zealand, still to come.
Highlights: England seal T20 series clean sweep over Sri Lanka
Video credit: TNT Sports
Harry Brook scored a brilliant century for England as they defeated Pakistan by two wickets to book their spot in the T20 World Cup semi-finals at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first but were never able to take full control, with England taking regular and early wickets through Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson.
Saim and captain Agha went cheaply to leave Pakistan at 27-2 after 3.3 overs.
Farhan, the top run scorer of the competition, and Babar combined to drag Pakistan to 69-2 from the opening 10 overs but that partnership was ended by Jamie Overton, who bowled Babar for 25.
Farhan and Fakhar ticked over but Overton struck again to remove Farhan for 63 and Pakistan were on just 122-4 from 15.4 overs.
Five wickets tumbled after that through Adil Rashid, Archer and two from Liam Dawson, as well as a run out from Jacob Bethell with the very last ball and England were left with 165 to chase.
It was a nightmare start as Phil Salt was removed with the very first ball by Shaheen, and Harry Brook walked out for England at No.3 instead of Jacob Bethell, who had done so for the majority of the competition.
Brook saw wickets tumble around him as Shaheen removed Jos Buttler for two and Bethell for eight, before Usman Tariq removed Tom Banton for two.
That saw England at 58-4 from 7.1 overs, with Brook scoring 45 of the runs but needing a partner to stick around.
That came in the form of Sam Curran, who scored 16 before being caught on the boundary from Tariq's "mystery spin", while Will Jacks came in and added 28 valuable runs alongside Brook.
The England captain scored his century with a six and then a four before Shaheen took his wicket for 100 exactly, with England needing just 10 off 18 balls.
Jacks and Overton both fell to Nawaz, leaving England sweating slightly, requiring three off the final over.
Archer duly hit the first ball for four to book England's spot in the semi-finals on a day that will be remembered almost entirely for Brook's mesmerising batting performance.
Harry Brook named Player of the Match
Understandably, Harry Brook is named Player of the Match after a simply brilliant knock saw his side to victory and with it, a semi-final spot.
England 166-8 (Archer 5*, Dawson 1*)
Overs 19.1
AND BREATHE! England get there much more stressfully than they would have thought but they manage to get it done and advance to the semi-finals - Harry Brook scored 100 of the 166 runs himself in a proper captain's knock.
England 162-8 (Archer 1, Dawson 1)
Overs 19
Jofra Archer gets a single after a misfield from Nawaz and England need three off the final over as they stumble across the line. Mirza will bowl it, this is suddenly tense again!
Wicket! Overton st Usman b Nawaz 0
England 161-8 (Overs 18.5)
Now then... Pakistan strike with another wicket and they suddenly believe here. Jofra Archer comes in and England suddenly need four from the last seven, Pakistan couldn't, could they?!
Wicket! Jacks b Nawaz 28
England 160-7 (Overs 18.1)
Will Jacks falls to the same fate as his skipper and is bowled by Nawaz, he batted brilliantly there and tries to end the game with a big six to midwicket. Liam Dawson and Jamie Overton will have to do it now, needing five from 11 balls.
England 160-6 (Overton 0, Jacks 28)
Overs 18
England are almost there, and are a shot away from glory and with it the semi-finals, Jacks is on strike with Nawaz bowling
Wicket! Brook b Shaheen 100
England 155-6 (Overs 17)
One of the all-time great T20 innings from an England player there and it comes from captain Harry Brook, the ball after securing his century in just 50 balls and he is bowled by Shaheen, who takes his fourth wicket with a wonderful yorker. England need just 10 from 18 balls and that is almost completely down to their skipper.
England 138-5 (Brook 90, Jacks 18)
Overs 16
Will Jacks continues his brilliant form and capitalises on the one bad ball from Tariq and smacks it for six, Brook then gets a bit of luck and edges one to the rope to move to 90. This is almost done now for England.
England 124-5 (Brook 83, Jacks 11)
Overs 15
Another supremely smart over of batting there from Brook and Jacks and they tick seven over through ones and twos. Brook's score is now his highest in T20s, overtaking his previous highest of 81, which also came against Pakistan in 2022. Tariq to bowl his last, can he make the breakthrough?
England 117-5 (Brook 79, Jacks 8)
Overs 14
A risk free over there as England put themselves in a great position, they need just 48 from the remaining 36 balls, as they score seven of Tariq's third over.
England 110-5 (Brook 72, Jacks 7)
Overs 13
A big six in there for Will Jacks and then five dot balls as he can't manage to get the shots away. Tariq continues now for Pakistan.
England 104-5 (Brook 72, Jacks 1)
Overs 12
A big over that for Pakistan and an important wicket, just five runs off it. England are ahead of the run rate but these two are important now.
Wicket! Curran c Nawaz b Tariq 16
England 103-5 (Overs 11.4)
Tariq just takes wickets and he has another one here! Curran supported Brook well there to score 16 but he goes for a shot he probably didn't need to play and is caught at midwicket. In comes Will Jacks and he has a job to do.
England 99-4 (Brook 72, Curran 13)
Overs 11
It is fast turning into the Harry Brook show here and that is a brilliant over from the England captain, he scores 15 as England score 17 and Pakistan are bringing back their wildcard in Usman Tariq with wickets needed and fast.
England 82-4 (Brook 57, Curran 11)
Overs 10
England are on track at the half way stage with 82 on the board, thanks largely to a brilliant half century from captain Harry Brook. He brings up his 50 from just 28 balls and if England are to win this, he will need to be there for a little while more you feel.
England 72-4 (Brook 49, Curran 9)
Overs 9
That is a massive let off for England as Sam Curran not only gets away woth a sligthly wayward shot towards long on and the ball then bounces past Shaheen, England get nine off it, Saim back on for Pakistan.
England 63-4 (Brook 47, Curran 3)
Overs 8
Brook and Curran rotate the strike with five singles with the remaining five balls, in comes Shadab again for Pakistan.
Wicket! Banton c Usman b Tariq 2
England 58-4 (Overs 7.1)
And he strikes with his very first ball! The one England batter who has faced him before is removed straight away as he nicks him to Usman. In comes Sam Curran.
England 58-3 (Brook 45, Banton 2)
Overs 7
Just five off that over and Harry Brook gets very lucky as he inside edges one for two down to fine leg. Usman Tariq is in next - he is being called "the Mystery Man", what can he do?
England 53-3 (Brook 41, Banton 1)
Overs 6
Well that is what Harry Brook can do and he scores three boundaries, including a big six over Nawaz's head to see England score 17 off the final over the powerplay.
England 36-3 (Brook 25, Banton 0)
Overs 5
Shaheen has been absolutely brilliant and takes another wicket there for the cost of just six runs, Harry Brook is in on 25 but he really would love someone to join him here, in comes Nawaz for Pakistan.
Wicket! Bethell c Farhan b Shaheen 8
England 35-3 (Overs 4.5)
Another one goes and once again it is Shaheen! The dropped catch costs Pakistan just two runs as Farhan takes a brilliant catch on the boundary and England need Tom Banton to stick around here.
England 29-2 (Brook 20, Bethell 7)
Overs 4
That feels like a big swing! Jacob Bethell is dropped by Usman Tariq after a wild sweep shot and Harry Brook scores a boundary from the very next ball, an important swing there as England may well have been almost out of the game there had he gone. Shaheen continues.
England 18-2 (Brook 15, Bethell 1)
Overs 3
Just four off Shaheen's second over and England are once again under pressure in the early stages here, Saim comes into the attack as the spin onslaught begins.
Wicket! Buttler c Usman b Shaheen 2
England 17-2 (Overs 2.3)
Now Buttler goes and it is Shaheen again! A tiny under edge carries through to the keeper and Buttler has to walk - out comes Jacob Bethell and a bit of pressure here on England.
England 14-1 (Brook 14, Buttler 0)
Overs 2
Two boundaries there for Harry Brook, who scores 11 off the over with a big six and also a four.
England 3-1 (Brook 3, Buttler 0)
Overs 1
A very tense first over as Jos Buttler is almost removed too by the fired up Shaheen, just three runs off it and Salt back in the shed, a great start from Pakistan.
Wicket! Salt c Usman b Shaheen 0
England 0-1 (Overs 0.1)
Wow! That is a way to start - Shaheen removes Phil Salt in the first ball of the game! England under pressure and it is going to be captain Harry Brook who comes out at 3 here.
Here come England!
Right then out come Jos Buttler and Phil Salt - can they get England off to a fast start here?
Pakistan 164-9
Overs 20
And that is that then - England will have to chase down 165 with 10 off the final over from Curran. Stay tuned for England's innings up next.
Pakistan 154-8 (Shadab 14, Mirza 1)
Overs 19
A decent over for both sides there, now it all comes down to the final over - Sam Curran to bowl it.
Wicket! Shaheen c Curran b Archer 2
Pakistan 149-8 (Overs 18.3)
England strike again, this time with a good catch on the boundary from Sam Curran and Shaheen has to go, on comes Salman Mirza.
Pakistan 147-7 (Shadab 9, Shaheen 1)
Overs 18
Dawson is unable to take the hat-trick but that is a brilliant over with two wickets and just seven runs scored - now it is over to Jofra Archer.
Wicket! Nawaz LBW Dawson 0
Pakistan 146-7 (Overs 17.5)
WOW! Just like that the momentum changes completely in England's favour and Dawson strikes with two in two, Nawaz is trapped in front of his stumps and goes up to the review but it was in hope rather than expectation and he has to walk - Dawson is now on a hat-trick!
Wicket! Usman c Overton b Dawson 8
Pakistan 146-6 (Overs 17.4)
Liam Dawson strikes again and it is Overton who is the catcher again. It should be the second of the over too, after Harry Brook dropped Shadab off the first ball of the over - that is great from Dawson though and he has two balls left.
Pakistan 140-5 (Shadab 4, Usman 8)
Overs 17
A big strike from Usman there to the boundary sees Pakistan move on to 140, with 16 off that Adil Rashid over, Liam Dawson in next then I imagine we will see Archer and Curran in the final two overs.
Wicket! Fakhar c Dawson b Rashid 25
Pakistan 132-5 (Overs 16.3)
Another big wicket for England! A brilliant catch from Liam Dawson sees Adil Rashid take his man, after he hit a six off the first ball of the over.
Pakistan 126-4 (Shadab 4, Fakhar 19)
Overs 16
Fourteen runs off the over but Overton removing Farhan is a massive result for England. Adil Rashid back on now and this is crunch time.
Wicket! Farhan LBW Overton 63
Pakistan 122-4 (Overs 15.3)
Jamie Overton removes the danger man! After a big six and then a four from Farhan, Overton comes back with a brilliant full and straight delivery that traps Farhan as he steps across his stumps - he has to walk despite his review and that is a massive wicket for England.
Pakistan 112-3 (Farhan 53, Fakhar 19)
Overs 15
A brilliant comeback over there from Sam Curran, only conceding five runs and England will be much happier with that - Jamie overton back on and just five overs to come - who will blink first here?
Pakistan 107-3 (Farhan 50, Fakhar 17)
Overs 14
Farhan brings up his 50 from 37 deliveries as Will Jacks is hit for 16 off that over, two massive sixes, one from Fakhar and one from Farhan see Pakistan finally start to bring up their run rate - England need to be careful here.
Pakistan 91-3 (Farhan 41, Fakhar 10)
Overs 13
Adil Rashid bowls brilliantly there but Farhan finds a way to the boundary with the seventh delivery after England are penalised for having too many fielders outside the ring - more sloppiness.
Pakistan 84-3 (Farhan 36, Fakhar 9)
Overs 12
Another sloppy mistake that from Jacob Bethell on the boundary and Pakistan score 11 runs of Will Jacks' first over - much needed for Pakistan.
Pakistan 73-3 (Farhan 34, Fakhar 0)
Overs 11
Just three off that over from Pakistan as England continue to ramp up the pressure on Pakistan here - Will Jacks and his interesting haircut to bowl next.
Wicket! Babar b Overton 25
Pakistan 73-3 (Overs 10.5)
Overton strikes! Babar Azam is removed and England's excellent bowling has got rid of the danger man - Babar chopping onto his stumps.
Pakistan 70-2 (Farhan 32, Babar 24)
Overs 10
A fairly conservative opening 10 overs from Pakistan, they will need to get going in the the second 10 overs here or they won't have an awful lot to defend. Overton back on for England.
Pakistan 61-2 (Farhan 29, Babar 18)
Overs 8
Six off the over there but no boundaries, Adil Rashid not looking at his absolute best there but no real harm done and once again England will be quite happy with this start. Dawson to bowl his third over.
Pakistan 55-2 (Farhan 28, Babar 14)
Overs 7
Nine off the over, Sam Curran including some of his traditional switch up, including an incredibly slow 50mph delivery. Farhan takes a boundary off the last ball but another decent over there from England.
Pakistan 46-2 (Farhan 23, Babar 10)
Overs 6
Farhan takes just six runs off Liam Dawson in what is another good over from the England spinner, some sensational fielding from Jacob Bethell to stop a boundary. Sam Curran replaces Archer for England.
Pakistan 40-2 (Farhan 17, Babar 10)
Overs 5
11 off that over from Archer, a needed improvement with a couple of boundaries from the danger man Babar Azam. Dawson to continue.
Pakistan 29-2 (Farhan 15, Babar 1)
Overs 4
Just six off that over from Dawson, four of which came from a poor fielding error from Jacob Bethell on the boundary. Archer to bowl his third over next up.
Wicket! Salman c Overton b Dawson 5
Pakistan 27-2 (Overs 3.3)
Liam Dawson strikes for England! A bit of a nothing shot from Salman who hits it straight down the throat of Jamie Overton at long off - a great start for England this!
Pakistan 23-1 (Farhan 14, Salman 1)
Overs 3
A couple of fortunate boundaries for Farhan there off some more excellent bowling from Jofra Archer, one inside edge that goes to the fine leg boundary and another that just evades Phil Salt on the cover boundary.
Wicket! Ayub c Bethell b Archer 7
Pakistan 14-1 (Overs 2.1)
Jofra Archer strikes for England with Saim Ayub hitting the ball off the toe into the mid-wicket region and it is an easy catch for Jacob Bethell.
Pakistan 14-0 (Farhan 6, Ayub 7)
Over 2
A sloppy over from Jamie Overton and Pakistan take nine off it, Archer back with the ball in hand.
Pakistan 5-0 (Farhan 1, Ayub 4)
Over 1
A good start from Jofra Archer but Ayub gets a boundary away with the last ball of the over, Jamie Overton to bowl from the other end.
Farhan and Ayub on way to the middle
Can Pakistan get this game going for Pakistan then - Jofra Archer to open the bowling for England.
Anthems being sung
The final action before England open the bowling here.
On come the officials and teams
Not long to go now!
England preparing to get underway
Final touches being put in for England's bowlers as they prepare to get going here in Pallekele.
Stay tuned as the game gets underway!
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'One of the most fun wins I've ever had' - Brook delighted after England seal series sweep
Video credit: TNT Sports
What do England need to reach semi-finals?
Should England win today, they will be through to the semi-finals after their convincing win over Zimbabwe on Sunday.
A defeat here does not rule them out though, with New Zealand still to play and England sitting on a very healthy net run rate of 2.55
The teams
England: Salt, Buttler (wk), Bethell, Banton, Brook (c), Curran, Jacks, Dawson, Overton, Archer, Rashid
Pakistan: Farhan, Ayub, Agha (c), Azam, Zaman, Khan (wk), Nawaz, Afridi, Mirza, Tariq
Pakistan make one change, England unchanged
Pakistan make the one change with Shaheen Shah Afridi coming back into the side. England meanwhile are completely unchanged once again.
England would have batted first
England skipper Harry Brook confirms he too would have batted first
Pakistan win the toss and choose to bat first
Pakistan have won the toss and captain Salman Ali Agha has opted to bat first - team news to follow!
Hello and Welcome
Thanks for joining our coverage of England's T20 World Cup Super Eights clash with Pakistan at Eden Gardens.
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