England vs Pakistan T20 World Cup: England defeated Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling Super 8 match of T20 World Cup 2026 in Pallekele on Tuesday. The win helped the Harry Brook-led side qualify for the semi-finals of this T20 World Cup, and become the first team to do so.
England were set a target of 165 by Pakistan. The two-time champions lost quick wickets in the powerplay, courtesy Shaheen Afridi (4/30), and were 53/3 within the first six overs.
Harry Brook walked in at No.3 and changed the complexion of the match. He lost Jos Buttler (2), Tom Banton (2)and Jacob Bethell (8) at the other end, with the trio hardly troubling the batting scorecard. Brook, though, forged a 45-run stand with Sam Curran (16) for the fifth wicket, and that is where England’s recovery began.
From 58/4, Brook took England to 155/6, and even after his dismissal in the 17th over, Will Jacks stepped up. Jacks scored 28 runs from 23 balls before being dismissed in the 19th over, along with Jamie Overton in the same over.
England needed three runs to win from the final over, with just two wickets in hand. Jofra Archer, though, sealed the deal with a boundary in the first ball of the 20th over.
Earlier, Pakistan managed to post a total of 164/9, thanks to a knock of 63 from the in-form Sahibzada Farhan. However, none of the other batters managed to convert starts into big knocks.
GAME OVER! Phew, what a game that was between England and Pakistan. England lost quick wickets in the end as Pakistan took the game deep into the final over. England needed three runs to win from six balls with just two wickets in hand. This was after they lost Will Jacks and Jamie Overton in the 19th over.
However, a win for Pakistan was not meant to be as Jofra Archer sealed the deal with a boundary off the first ball of the 20th over. The win tonight means that England have become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of T20 World Cup 2026.
