PALLEKELE : Captain Harry Brook struck a blazing century to power England cricket team into the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a tense two-wicket win over Pakistan national cricket team on Tuesday.
Chasing 165, England made a disastrous start as Shaheen Shah Afridi ripped through the top order with figures of 4-30, reducing the former champions to 35-3.
Promoted to number three, Brook produced his highest Twenty20 international score, reaching his century in 50 balls with 10 fours and four sixes. He was the lone constant as wickets tumbled around him and England slipped to 103-5.
Brook said the move up the order had been suggested by coach Brendon McCullum.
“He came to me this morning and said we might change it up and put you at three,” Brook said. “We’ve spoken about adapting throughout this competition. Having the bravery to do that today was awesome.”
England’s chase began in the worst possible fashion when Phil Salt fell to the first ball of the innings, caught behind by Usman Khan off Afridi. Jos Buttler soon followed, and Jacob Bethell was taken in the deep as Afridi struck again.
Usman Tariq dismissed Tom Banton first ball, with the keeper taking his third catch of the innings, leaving England in deep trouble.
Brook counter-attacked, but Afridi returned to bowl him with his final delivery, shaking the captain’s hand as he departed with England still needing 10 runs.
Mohammad Nawaz removed two wickets in the penultimate over to heighten the tension, but fast bowler Jofra Archer sealed victory with a boundary, taking England home with five balls to spare.
“Whenever we play against England and we lose, it’s always him,” Pakistan captain Salman Agha said of Brook. “Hats off to him for the way he batted.”
Earlier, Pakistan elected to bat but struggled in the powerplay as sharp fielding reduced them to 27-2. Saim Ayub fell to Archer, while Liam Dawson dismissed Agha courtesy of a diving catch from Jamie Overton.
Babar Azam (25) threatened briefly before Overton bowled him, leaving Pakistan 73-3. Opener Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 63 off 45 balls, while Fakhar Zaman (25) and Shadab Khan (23) added late runs to lift Pakistan to 164 — a total that ultimately proved just short.
