Overview
- England chased 165 to win by two wickets at Pallekele, finishing 166-8 in 19.1 overs after Pakistan posted 164-9.
- Captain Harry Brook struck 100 off 51 balls after promoting himself to No. 3, rescuing England from 58-4 and becoming the first England skipper to score a T20 World Cup hundred.
- Liam Dawson’s 3-24, supported by Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton, kept Pakistan to a par score, with Sahibzada Farhan top-scoring on 63.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi took 4-30 and removed key batters early as England’s chase wobbled late before Archer sealed the result with a boundary to open the final over.
- England are the first side into the last four for a record fifth straight T20 World Cup, while Pakistan’s path hinges on beating Sri Lanka on Feb 28 and New Zealand’s results on Feb 25 and Feb 27, with net run rate likely decisive; scrutiny in Pakistan has intensified over selection and Mohammad Nawaz’s role.