Pallekele: Skipper Harry Brook played the defining innings of his T20 career, smashing a 51-ball 100 to guide England to a narrow two-wicket win over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Chasing 165 on a tricky pitch, England looked in trouble at 35 for 3 and later 58 for 4, but Brook’s masterclass carried them home with five balls to spare.

Brook’s innings marked his first T20I century and set a new record as the highest score by an England skipper in T20 World Cup history. With this win, England have reached their fifth consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final and became the first team to qualify in this edition.

Tactical brilliance and controlled aggression

Batting at No. 3 for the first time, Brook combined skill and patience, hitting 10 fours and four sixes while picking his moments carefully. He refrained from taking risks against Usman Tariq, who had figures of 2/31 in four overs, and stood firm against Shaheen Shah Afridi, who tore through England’s top order with 4/30.

Brook sealed his century with a six and a chipped boundary over mid-off before being bowled while attempting a third big hit against Afridi. His innings, however, had already secured England’s place in the semi-finals, earning him a warm handshake from the Pakistan pacer.

The hallmark of Brook’s knock was his attacking play against spinners Saim Ayub, Mohammed Nawaz, and Shadab Ahmed. Impeccable footwork and intelligent placement allowed him to rotate the strike efficiently, running 13 twos and exploiting gaps in the deep. A 17-run over off Nawaz, featuring a six and two boundaries, included the match-defining inside-out slash over cover and point.

Key partnerships and Pakistan’s fight

After Tariq’s second spell reduced England to 103 for 5, Brook found support in Will Jacks (28 off 23 balls), adding 52 runs in just over five overs. Tariq’s final over proved decisive when a half-tracker was pulled over square leg for four, putting England in control. Following Brook’s dismissal, Nawaz claimed Jacks and Jamie Overton, but Jofra Archer hit the first ball of Salman Mirza’s final over for a boundary to seal the semi-final berth.

Pakistan’s innings had earlier been boosted by Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 63 off 45 balls with seven fours and two sixes. On a slow track, England’s Liam Dawson emerged as the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/24 and restricting Pakistan from crossing 175 with crucial breakthroughs in the 18th over.