Skipper propels England into semifinals with a 51-ball 100
Pallekele: Skipper Harry Brook played the most defining innings of his T20 career, smashing a 51-ball 100 to propel England into the semifinals of the T20 World Cup with a narrow two-wicket victory over Pakistan.
Chasing a target of 165 on a slightly difficult surface, England were 35 for 3 and then 58 for 4 before Brook almost singlehandedly carried them through with the two-time champions winning it with five balls to spare.
Batting at No 3 for the first time, Harry Brook produced his maiden T20I century — the highest by an England captain in T20 World Cup history — striking 10 fours and four sixes.
He paced the chase superbly, avoiding unnecessary risks against Usman Tariq (2/31) while countering a fiery spell from Shaheen Shah Afridi (4/30), who removed three batters early.
Brook was particularly severe on the spinners — Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan — using nimble footwork and clever placement to collect 13 twos on the expansive ground. A 17-run over off Nawaz shifted momentum, while his inside-out lofted drive over cover stood out. He added 52 runs in 5.1 overs with Will Jacks (28) after Sam Curran’s dismissal left England 103 for 5.
Brook fell after completing his century, but England crossed the line through Jofra Archer’s boundary in the final over. Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan’s 63 off 45 guided Pakistan to 164 for 9, while left-arm spinner Liam Dawson (3/24) ensured they fell short of a bigger total.
