England Beat Pakistan by 2 Wickets, Qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals
Heart in mouth stuff. England needed 165 off 20 overs and nearly threw it away — but they got there, scraping home by 2 wickets with 5 balls to spare to book their place in the last four of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan batted first, posted 164/9, and then Shaheen Shah Afridi nearly pulled off the unthinkable — reducing England to 58/4 inside 8 overs. But Harry Brook had other ideas entirely.
| Match Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 45th Match — Super 8 Group 2 |
| Venue | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium |
| Toss | Pakistan — elected to bat first |
| Result | England won by 2 wickets (5 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Harry Brook — 100 off 51 balls |
Pakistan Innings — 164/9 in 20 Overs
Pakistan chose to bat and made a reasonable start before the middle order let them down at crucial moments. Sahibzada Farhan was the standout — a classy 63 off 45 balls that kept Pakistan competitive after early wobbles.
Salman Agha fell cheaply for 5, Saim Ayub went for 7, and at 73/3 after 11 overs, Pakistan needed someone to go big in the back half. Fakhar Zaman gave it a go with 25 off 16, and Shadab Khan’s 23 off 11 at the death gave the total a late boost — but 164 was always going to be chaseable for England’s batting depth.
Bowling for England:
- Liam Dawson — 3/24 off 4 overs. The pick of the bowlers, quietly brilliant
- Jofra Archer — 2/32 off 4 overs. Pace and hostility throughout
- Jamie Overton — 2/26 off 3 overs. Chipped in at the right time
- Adil Rashid — 1/31 off 4 overs. Controlled the middle overs
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liam Dawson | 4 | 24 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 |
| Jamie Overton | 3 | 26 | 2 | 8.66 |
| Adil Rashid | 4 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 |
England Innings — 166/8 in 19.1 Overs
This chase will be talked about for a long time. England were 0/1 off the very first ball — Phil Salt gone for a golden duck to Shaheen. Then Buttler for 2. Then Bethell for 8. Three wickets inside 5 overs and Pakistan were dreaming.
But Harry Brook was still there. And Harry Brook decided this was his moment.
Harry Brook — 100 off 51 Balls
This was a captain’s innings under the most intense pressure imaginable. Brook walked in with England crumbling and simply refused to let the chase fall apart. He reached his fifty off just 28 balls, brought up his hundred off 50 balls — 10 fours, 4 sixes — and carried England from 35/3 to within touching distance of the target almost single-handedly.
When he finally fell for exactly 100 in the 17th over, England still needed 10 runs from 19 balls with 4 wickets in hand. Then Will Jacks went for 28. Jamie Overton stumped for 0. Suddenly it was 161/8 with the game hanging by a thread.
Liam Dawson hit the winning run off just 1 ball, and Jofra Archer finished unbeaten on 5 to seal one of the most dramatic chases of this tournament.
Check the updated Super 8 points table to see how England’s qualification changes the Group 2 picture for Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
What This Means for Pakistan
Pakistan are now in serious trouble. This loss leaves them needing to beat New Zealand in their final Super Eight game AND rely on other results. Their semi-final hopes are alive but hanging by a thread.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was exceptional — 4 wickets for 30 runs, completely dismantling England’s top order. But his brilliance wasn’t enough when Brook was in that kind of form. Pakistan will be left wondering what could have been if their middle order had pushed the total past 180.
See the full Super 8 group stage breakdown to understand what Pakistan and New Zealand need from the final round of Group 2 fixtures.
England — Worthy Semi-Finalists
Two wins from two in the Super Eights. England look genuinely dangerous heading into the knockouts. Brook’s century showed the kind of match-winning individual brilliance that wins World Cups. Dawson’s bowling was smart and disciplined. Archer brings genuine pace and threat with the new ball.
Their full squad heading into the semi-finals is well-balanced — batting depth, pace, quality spin, and now real momentum. Whoever comes out of Group 1 to face them will know they are in for a serious fight.
Keep up with all the latest T20 World Cup 2026 results and news as the semi-final lineup takes shape over the next few days.
The Bottom Line
England did it the hard way — nearly blowing a chase they should have controlled — but they got over the line. Harry Brook’s hundred was the difference. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s four-wicket burst nearly wasn’t enough. Pakistan played well enough to win but came up 2 wickets short.
England are in the semis. Pakistan are not yet out — but they are very close to the exit.
FAQs
Q. What was the result of Pakistan vs England Super 8 match? England won by 2 wickets with 5 balls remaining, chasing down Pakistan’s 164/9 to finish on 166/8.
Q. Did England qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals? Yes — England’s win over Pakistan confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Q. How many did Harry Brook score against Pakistan? Harry Brook scored a brilliant 100 off 51 balls, hitting 10 fours and 4 sixes in a match-winning captain’s knock.
Q. How did Shaheen Shah Afridi bowl against England? Shaheen was outstanding — 4 wickets for 30 runs in 4 overs, dismantling England’s top order inside the powerplay.
Q. Who was Pakistan’s top scorer against England? Sahibzada Farhan top-scored for Pakistan with 63 off 45 balls — the only batter to really anchor the innings.
Q. Can Pakistan still qualify for the semi-finals after losing to England? Pakistan’s hopes are very slim — they must beat New Zealand in their final Super 8 game and rely heavily on other results going in their favour.
