England vs Pakistan, Super 8 - Match 5 Match Summary

That's a wrap - Another game in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026 has flown by and we are fast-heading into the serious business end of the tournament. Next up, the base stays in the Island nation for the sixth match of the Super 8, as co-hosts Sri Lanka go up against New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium. That game will be played on Wednesday, 25th February, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 1.30 pm GMT. But please make sure you join us in advance for all the exciting pre-match analysis and buildup. Until then, it's goodbye from us. Take care, stay safe, enjoy cricket. Cheers!

The first semifinalists are here - England, the 2022 champions, have put in a strong showing, even without delivering a complete performance across all departments. But they have stepped up and won the crunch moments more often than not to tilt the game in their favor. They still have a game left in this Super Eight stage, against New Zealand, on Friday, 27th February. They would want to hop into the semis with a positive record. For Pakistan, the walls are closing in on them. This loss has made their chances to make it to the next stage a lot tougher, and a win against Sri Lanka is a must on Saturday, February 28th, to keep their flickering hopes alive. They not only need to win, but would want the favors from other results too.

Got a bit nervy, but good to get over the line - Harry Brook walks up again to have a chat as the skipper. Brook says that they came here to do the job and thankfully, they got over the line. Adds that the decision to promote himself to number 3 was taken this morning. Mentions that the reason behind it was to maximise the Powerplay. Admits that even if Baz (Brendon McCullum) didn't take the call, it was on the back of his mind for a long time now. Tells that their coach (Brendon McCullum) also reminded him that he (Brook) has a great record against them. Shares that they didn't field that well but it happens in cricket and they need to work on it. Brook further adds that wickets in the Powerplay are important in T20s and Archer has been able to do that for them. Says that it got a bit nervy towards the end but good to get over the line. He was hoping it wasn't another Oval against India. Further details that he and the coaching staff will have a chat about the struggles in the top order. He ends by saying the approach is going to be more or less the same, with nothing much changing, but stresses on going out there and building momentum.

Will have to rely on the other results - Salman Agha reflects that Pakistan had made a solid start with the bat but admits that they failed to finish as strongly as they would have liked. Adds that sometimes credit must be given to the opposition, especially for the way Harry Brook batted. He understands that Pakistan now have to rely on other results going in their favour and will also need to beat Sri Lanka in their next game. Looking back at the halfway stage, he feels the total was slightly below par, even though the team fought back well with the ball before Brook’s brilliance took the game away. Speaking about Sahibzada Farhan's knock, Salman notes that he has been consistently performing over the past several months, but admits that the rest of the batting unit hasn’t contributed as expected, while remaining hopeful of improvement going forward. He is pleased with Shaheen Afridi’s return to form, praising his bowling performance, and also highlights the challenge of containing Harry Brook, given his ability to score all around the ground. On England’s approach against Usman Tariq, Salman says they handled him well by rotating the strike effectively, though he still believed Tariq bowled well. Despite the odds towards the end, he mentions that Nawaz’s spell gave them a glimmer of hope, adding that cricket can be unpredictable and even a one percent chance is enough for his team to keep fighting.

... Time to hear it from the captains ...

Brook, the one man army - The sixes and fours may grab the headlines in T20 cricket, and Brook had plenty of those as well. But what truly stood out was his intent and awareness, the hunger of constantly rotating the strike with singles and doubles, even when the boundaries didn't come regularly. England hustled hard between the wickets, turning ones into twos and running plenty of doubles to tick off the target with smart cricket. And en route to his magnificent hundred, Brook also crossed several milestones (as shown on air) - 1. He brought up his maiden T20I century, and doing it on a big occasion made it a truly significant landmark in his career. 2. Brook also became the first captain ever to score a century in a T20 World Cup. 3. Brook now also holds the record of becoming the first ever England captain to score a T20I ton. 4. He is now the third batter from England to score at least one century in all formats of cricket.

Not enough on the board for Pakistan - Promoting himself to No. 3 turned out to be a masterstroke from Brook, who brought up a fine half-century while leading from the front. At the other end, Sam Curran played the perfect foil, adding calm to Brook’s aggression. Their 45-run partnership injected life into the chase. Even after Curran’s dismissal, Brook carried on undeterred, keeping England’s hopes truly alive with his attacking approach as he got off to a majestic century. However, England lost a few quick wickets towards the backend, but with runs required in single digits, it was just a matter of one big hit in the end. And honestly, Pakistan just didn't have enough on the board.

A roaring comeback with the ball - Benched for the last couple of matches due to some really ordinary bowling, Shaheen Afridi was trusted again, and he delivered gold this time. He denied the English top order any sort of momentum and dismissed all Buttler, Salt, and Bethell, reducing England to 35/3. Brook, though, came in with his customary attacking approach, and his intent kept England in touching distance with the asking rate. But they slid down 58/4, as Tariq made an immediate impact, removing Banton as well. At halfway, England were crawling and needed a stable partnership to get back on track.

A mixed-bag to start with - Pakistan were jolted early with the loss of Saim Ayub, but Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam steadied the ship with a composed rebuilding act. Babar played the perfect supporting role before departing, while Farhan carried the responsibility forward, crafting a classy half-century to anchor the innings through the middle phase. The momentum swung back in Pakistan’s favour when Fakhar Zaman injected pace with a lively cameo, and Shadab Khan added the finishing touches with a busy knock, regularly finding the boundary to push the total beyond 160, which was still a modest one.  For England, Liam Dawson stood out with the ball, picking up three crucial wickets to keep Pakistan from running away with the game, eventually ending with a frugal spell of 3/24. Whereas Archer and Overton picked up two apiece to provide a solid start with the ball. England, by their own high standards, were quite sloppy in the field, and gave away a few easy runs, something they would want to tighten up going forward in the next stage of the tournament.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Harry Brook receives the award for his magnificent captain's knock of 100 from 51 balls. Brook says that he is very happy the way they played and got through to the semis. Adds that they will focus on the New Zealand game but the bigger prize is behind that. Mentions that it was all Baz (Coach Brendon McCullum), sending him at number 3. He had a chat with him in the morning and they planned to change things up if needed and he is glad it worked out. Says that it is nice to face as many balls as possible. Brook calls Pakistan a good team, having some world-class players and it is good to get over the line. Shares that there are still areas to improve and you can never be perfect. On his hundred, he says that he is just happy to get the job done. Ends by saying that they were in a tricky situation but a couple of good partnerships helped them win this game.

Brook's men march ahead - Well, it got a bit tense towards the end, but it was England's game to lose with just a handful of runs needed. Smiles all around the English camp as England become the first team to qualify for the semifinals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2026. But they, too, would agree that they have been far from being clinical, especially with the bat in this tournament. Disappointment for Pakistan. Their previous Super Eight game was rained off without a ball being bowled and they had to settle for one point. And a loss here in Pallekele has made it very tricky for them to make it to the next stage.

FOUR! Jofra Archer hits the winning runs! ENGLAND WIN BY 2 WICKETS AND MAKE IT TO THE SEMI FINAL. Salman Mirza bangs this into the pitch, pace on. Archer gets on top of the bounce and pulls it away, to the left of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Last over coming up. England need 3 to win. And Pakistan are penalised for a slow over rate as well. Salman Mirza to bowl the final over.

Slows it up, full and on middle, Jofra Archer knocks it down the pitch to the right of the bowler. Nawaz moves to his right, but Dawson comes in his way and he ends up diving over the ball, allowing a run. 3 needed in the last over.

Jofra Archer is the new batter in for England.

OUT! STUMPED! Is there a twist still left in the tale? Mohammad Nawaz gives this one some more air, full and on off, lures the batter. Jamie Overton skips down the track to go for the glory shot but gets beaten on the flight, and Usman Khan behind the stumps does the rest. England are 161/8, still needing 4 runs in 7 balls.

Oh..two dots! Flighted, full and on middle, Jamie Overton tucks it towards mid-wicket. Liam Dawson wants the run but he is sent back just in time.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Jamie Overton pushes it back to the bowler.

Short and around off, Liam Dawson punches it to sweeper cover for a single. England one hit away from the win now.

Liam Dawson walks in at number 9.

OUT! TIMBER! Mohammad Nawaz gets a wicket but it is too little too late for Pakistan. He bowls this slower through the air, shortish and on middle, angling in. Will Jacks moves to the leg side to make room and go over covers, but plays all over it. The ball goes through and hits the top of the leg stump. England are 160/7, needing 5 more from 11 balls.

Mohammad Nawaz (2-0-24-1) to bowl the penultimate over.

Bangs this into the pitch, outside off, Will Jacks slashes hard at it. Gets an outside edge that goes on the bounce to third man. They cross. 5 needed in 12 balls now.

Another dot! Full again and on off, Will Jacks pushes it straight to short cover.

Three dots in a row now! Goes fuller and on leg, angling in and keeps a bit low. Will Jacks makes room to drive it but fails to connect.

Short of a length and around of, Will Jacks tries to pull but gets a bottom edge to the left of the keeper.

A good wide yorker this time, outside off, Will Jacks jams it out towards backward point.

WIDE! Good length but way outside off, Will Jacks leaves it alone. Another wide. England just one big hit away from the win now.

Pitched up and on middle, Will Jacks flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

WIDE! Slower bouncer, outside off, Will Jacks leaves it alone. Wided.