Harry Brook’s brilliant century handed Pakistan a two-wicket Super Eights win at Palekele, and England qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-finals with one game in hand.
Brook’s 100 off 51 balls was the highest score by an England captain in the Men’s T20 World Cup and saved his side from a predicament after four of the top five teams were eliminated in single digits.
Chasing 165, England faced early problems, with Phil Salt going for a golden duck from Shaheen Shah Afridi, prolonging Jos Buttler’s struggles with the bat and Jacob Bethel (8) adding just two after a drop.
Arriving at the halfway point against England at 17-2, Brook made the right decision to promote him to number three in the batting order, hitting 10 fours and four sixes to pave the way to victory.
After England won the toss and elected to bat, Liam Dawson starred with 3 for 24 with the ball as Pakistan were restricted to 164 for 9 from 20 overs, but the total proved below average, with England winning by two wickets with five balls to spare.
The win means England will travel to Colombo for Friday’s Super 8 final match against New Zealand (live on Sky Sports), with England already assured of a record fifth successive semi-final appearance.
Pakistan need to beat co-hosts Sri Lanka on Saturday and will hope for another result to have a chance of joining England in the last four.
More to come.
England T20 World Cup Super 8 results and fixtures
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