Harry Brook’s sensational century powered England into the semi-finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 as they edged past Pakistan in a dramatic encounter at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Leading England in his first major tournament as captain, Brook promoted himself to No. 3 and delivered a captain’s knock, smashing his maiden T20I hundred to guide his side home with a game to spare. Having begun the tournament with a solid 53 against Nepal, Brook had struggled against spin in the following matches, registering four consecutive scores below 20. Determined to turn things around, he moved up from No. 5 to take advantage of the powerplay.

However, his challenge began immediately. Recalled Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi struck with the very first ball of England’s chase, forcing Brook to the crease to face the second delivery. Afridi went on to claim three powerplay wickets, while Usman Tariq removed two more in the middle overs, leaving England reeling at 58 for 4 and later 103 for 5.

Amid the collapse, Brook counterattacked in style. He dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack with fearless strokeplay, bringing up a stunning 50-ball century. The milestone came in emphatic fashion as he launched Afridi over cover for six and followed it up with a boundary over mid-off. Although Afridi had the final word with a pinpoint yorker that dismissed him the very next ball, Brook departed to a standing ovation with England needing just 10 runs for victory.

The finish, however, was far from smooth. Mohammad Nawaz picked up two late wickets to push the contest into the final over. Eventually, Jofra Archer struck Salman Mirza through midwicket to seal the win, prompting visible relief in the England camp.

The victory confirmed England’s place in the semi-finals, marking their fifth consecutive appearance in the knockout stage of a men’s T20 World Cup. They will secure top spot in the group with a win over New Zealand national cricket team in Colombo on Friday.

Despite the triumph, England’s overall performance left room for improvement. Their fielding was patchy, with Jacob Bethell conceding boundaries through misfields, Brook dropping a catch at extra cover, and Archer conceding a free hit after failing to stay inside the 30-yard circle. The batting unit, too, has yet to fully click, with Jos Buttler struggling for form.

Pakistan, on the other hand, face a must-win clash against Sri Lanka national cricket team to keep their hopes alive. Although Sahibzada Farhan impressed with 63, their innings lacked momentum after being stifled by England’s spinners in the middle overs. Liam Dawson was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 3 for 24 to restrict Pakistan’s total.

While England are yet to produce a complete performance in the tournament, Brook’s brilliance ensured they remain firmly in contention as the knockout stages approach.