England’s captain Harry Brook (R) performs a shot as Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Usman Khan fields throughout the 2026 ICC Males’s T20 Cricket World Cup Tremendous Eights match between England and Pakistan on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 24, 2026. — AFP
KANDY: Two-time champions England registered a hard-earned two-wicket victory over Pakistan within the high-stakes Tremendous Eights match of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 right here on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s choice to bat first backfired because the 2009 champions solely managed 164/9 of their 20 overs, courtesy of a half-century by in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan.
Farhan top-scored for the Inexperienced Shirts with a brisk 63 off 45 deliveries with the assistance of seven fours and two sixes. He was supported by Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, 25 every, in addition to all-rounder Shadab Khan, who contributed with an 11-ball 23 on the backend.
Liam Dawson spearheaded England’s bowling cost with three wickets for simply 24 runs in his 4 overs, whereas Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer bagged two every.
In flip, England chased down the 165-run goal on the primary supply of the ultimate over for the lack of eight wickets after captain Harry Brook’s blazing century.
Brook spearheaded England’s profitable pursuit with a 51-ball 100, studded with 10 fours and 4 sixes, whereas Will Jacks (28) and Sam Curran (16) made notable contributions.
Shaheen was the decide of the bowlers for Pakistan as he picked up 4 wickets for simply 30 runs in his 4 overs, whereas Usman Tariq Nawaz might declare two every.
The victory, which marked England’s second in as many matches within the Tremendous Eights, helped them grow to be the primary workforce to qualify for the semi-finals of the continued 20-team event as they consolidated prime spot in Group 2 with 4 factors.
Pakistan, then again, slipped to 3rd spot behind New Zealand, with whom their Tremendous Eights opener was washed out as a consequence of incessant rain in Colombo final week.
The defeat additional made the 2009 champions depending on the end result of the remaining Group 2 matches, as they’d now want New Zealand to lose each their remaining matches towards Sri Lanka and England, in addition to beating the co-hosts to qualify for the semi-finals.
Nevertheless, if New Zealand managed to win one out of their remaining two matches, the Inexperienced Shirts would then have to beat Sri Lanka by a big margin to raised the Blackcaps’ internet run charge and clinch the second spot.
For the unversed, Pakistan’s remaining Tremendous Eights fixture is scheduled towards Sri Lanka on the identical venue on Saturday.
