T20 World Cup 2026: England vs Pakistan, Match 45, Super Eight – Full highlights, top moments & winner details

England sealed their semifinal berth with a two-wicket win over Pakistan in Pallekele, chasing down 165 with five balls to spare. Pakistan posted 164/9 after opting to bat, courtesy of Sahibzada Farhan’s 63, while Liam Dawson starred with 3/24 to keep the total in check.

The chase began with Shaheen Shah Afridi striking thrice in the Powerplay. But skipper Harry Brook got his team back in the hunt with a 100 off 51 balls. He found support from Will Jacks in a crucial stand. Although Pakistan fought back late with quick wickets, England held their nerve in the final over, with Jofra Archer finishing the job to confirm their place in the last four.

Top Batting performance of the match - Harry Brook

England's Harry Brook registered his name in history books with a 100 off 51 balls against Pakistan, becoming the first captain to score a century in a Men’s T20 World Cup match. His 50-ball hundred, laced with 10 fours and four sixes, powered England to a two-wicket win while chasing 165 and sealed their semifinal berth in the 2026 edition. Brook also became the first England skipper to score a T20I century and only the third English batter after Alex Hales and Jos Buttler to hit a T20 World Cup ton. Leading from the front, Brook singlehandedly turned the game.

Top Bowling performance of the match - Shaheen Shah Afridi

While England eventually cruised through, Shaheen Shah Afridi looked back to his best with a 4/30 in four overs. He struck with the very first ball, removing Phil Salt with a seaming delivery that found the edge. In his next spell, he dismissed Jos Buttler, inducing a faint nick with subtle movement. He then bounced out Jacob Bethell with a short ball before delivering the final blow, a yorker to castle Harry Brook right after his century. 

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• Shadab Khan and Salman Mirza stitched a 15-run stand for the ninth wicket, now Pakistan’s highest for that wicket in Men’s T20 World Cup history, surpassing the 13-run effort by Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul.
• With 135 T20I wickets, Shaheen Shah Afridi has overtaken Haris Rauf (133) to become Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the format.
• The match aggregate of 330 runs is the highest ever in a Men’s T20 World Cup clash between England and Pakistan.
• Harry Brook’s unbeaten 100* against Pakistan in Pallekele (2026) is now among the highest individual scores by a captain in T20 World Cups.
• Brook’s 50-ball hundred is the joint third-fastest in T20 World Cups, alongside Chris Gayle (50 vs SA, 2007), and only behind Gayle’s 47-ball ton vs ENG (2016).
• In his first-ever T20I innings at No. 3, Brook made it count with a match-winning century under pressure.
• The delivery from Usman Tariq that dismissed Sam Curran had the second-lowest release point by a Pakistan spinner in this tournament.
• Shaheen Afridi now holds the record for most wickets in Powerplay overs (1–6) in T20 World Cups, 18 scalps at an economy of 6.22.
• His 3/13 against England in Pallekele (2026) joins an elite list of Pakistan bowlers with three wickets in the Powerplay of a T20 WC game, alongside performances by Mohammad Asif (2007) and Abdul Razzaq (2009).
• Shaheen also became the first Pakistani bowler to strike with the very first ball of a T20 World Cup innings.
• England were sloppy in the field, registering seven misfields, their second-most in a T20 WC innings (since data has been recorded).
• Pakistan’s batters attacked spin with intent, attempting 12 sweeps and scoring 20 runs at a strike rate of 166.7, including one four and two sixes.
• The ball from Adil Rashid to Usman in the 16.4 over turned the most in any match played at Pallekele in this tournament so far.
• Sahibzada Farhan has smashed 13 sixes in this edition, the most by a Pakistan batter in a single T20 World Cup, eclipsing Mohammad Rizwan’s 12 in 2021.
• Farhan is also only the second Pakistani batter after Babar Azam (four in 2021) to register three or more 50-plus scores in a single T20 WC edition.
• Among players with a minimum of 500 runs in T20 WCs, Babar Azam has the lowest strike rate of 111.5.
• Jofra Archer generated the second-most seam movement in the Powerplay in Sri Lanka in this tournament, only behind Xavier Bartlett vs Oman.

Who was the Player of the Match?

English skipper Harry Brook was awarded the Player of the Match for his heroic ton, which guided the team to their second consecutive win in the Super Eight stage. Brook smashed a 51-ball 100 and single-handedly took the Three Lions over the lion.

What is the next match?

England's next task in the ongoing Super Eight stage is against New Zealand, with the two teams set to meet on 27 February in Colombo. Meanwhile, Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on 28 February in Pallekele.