By Staff Reporter
KANDY: Harry Brook produced a captain’s innings of rare composure and power as England secured their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a two-wicket victory over Pakistan in a gripping Super Eights match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday.
Chasing 165, England reached their target with five balls to spare, finishing on 166 for eight in 19.1 overs. The result made them the first team to qualify for the last four and confirmed top spot in Group 2 after a second successive win in the stage. The chase began in familiar turmoil for England against a fired-up Shaheen Shah Afridi. Phil Salt was dismissed for a duck from the first ball, edging an inswinger to wicketkeeper Usman Khan. Jos Buttler followed for two in the third over, another sharp catch for Khan.
Jacob Bethell offered brief resistance but became Afridi’s third victim inside the powerplay, caught brilliantly by Sahibzada Farhan at deep square leg. England were 35 for three inside five overs and the innings appeared to be listing. Brook, however, took control with a blend of timing, placement and calculated aggression that kept the required rate in check. He added 23 with Tom Banton, who made only two before falling to the leg-spin of Usman Tariq, then forged a more substantial partnership of 45 with Sam Curran. Curran contributed 16 off 15 balls before holing out off Mohammad Nawaz while attempting to clear the ropes.
The decisive stand came with Will Jacks at No 7. The pair added 52 for the sixth wicket, with Brook reaching his half-century off just 28 deliveries. Jacks made a lively 28 before being bowled by Nawaz, but by then Brook had already brought up his maiden T20I century, off 50 balls. He had struck 10 fours and four sixes when Afridi claimed his fourth wicket, removing the centurion on the final ball of the 17th over with England at 155 for six and needing only 10 more runs.
The closing overs carried late tension. Nawaz struck again in the 18th, having Jacks caught and then stumping Jamie Overton to leave England needing three runs off the final over with two wickets in hand. Jofra Archer settled matters emphatically, driving the first ball of the last over, bowled by Salman Mirza, to the boundary. Afridi finished with four for 30 from his four overs, an outstanding effort that almost turned the contest. Usman Tariq and Nawaz each took two wickets.
Earlier Pakistan, having won the toss and elected to bat, had posted 164 for nine, a total that always looked slightly under par on a surface that offered decent carry but rewarded disciplined bowling. Their innings followed a familiar pattern of starts and stops. Saim Ayub fell for seven and captain Salman Ali Agha for five inside the first four overs, leaving them at 27 for two. Babar Azam joined Farhan and the pair added 46 in measured fashion, though Babar never looked entirely at ease before Jamie Overton bowled him for 25 off 24 balls.
Farhan, the tournament’s leading run-scorer entering the match, anchored the effort with 63 off 45 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. He found another useful ally in Fakhar Zaman, who struck an enterprising 25 off 16 balls in a 49-run fourth-wicket stand. Farhan was eventually trapped lbw by Overton, and Zaman was caught at point soon afterwards after launching one six off Adil Rashid.
Liam Dawson then delivered a decisive spell, removing Usman Khan for eight and Mohammad Nawaz for a duck in successive deliveries to reduce Pakistan to 146 for seven in the 18th over. Shadab Khan provided late impetus with 23 off 11 balls, featuring four boundaries, but the damage had been done. Dawson finished with three for 24, the most economical and damaging return. Overton and Archer claimed two wickets each, while Rashid took one. The result leaves England in pole position heading into the semi-finals. For Pakistan the outlook is far more precarious. They must now produce a commanding victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday and rely on favourable results elsewhere if they are to keep their campaign alive.
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