Harry Brook leads England to T20 World Cup semifinals
England have booked their spot in the T20 World Cup semifinals with a match still to play, and it’s all thanks to a stunning knock from captain Harry Brook, reports BritPanorama.
Brook smashed an incredible 100 off just 51 balls in Pallekele, guiding his side to a two-wicket Super 8 triumph over Pakistan.
This performance marks a record-breaking achievement as no England skipper has ever scored higher at a men’s T20 World Cup. The victory means England will head into Friday’s clash with New Zealand in Colombo already guaranteed a last-four berth for a remarkable fifth consecutive tournament.
England’s run chase got off to a nightmare start, with Phil Salt departing off the very first delivery, caught behind off Shaheen Afridi’s bowling. Jos Buttler’s poor form continued, while Jacob Bethell managed just eight runs before being dropped after an earlier mishap, leaving England at 17-2.
At that point, Brook strode to the crease and turned the game around spectacularly. His innings included ten boundaries and four sixes, justifying head coach Brendon McCullum’s decision to promote him to number three in the batting order. “It was all Baz,” Brook said, crediting McCullum for the tactical switch. He expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity to score more runs and contribute to the team’s success.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha described the defeat as “very embarrassing” while acknowledging that his team still had a chance to reach the semifinals. Meanwhile, England’s Will Jacks lauded Brook’s efforts, stating, “I think he is our best batter and should face as many balls as possible.”
As England now turn their attention to New Zealand on Friday, the nature of their hard-fought victory serves as both a reminder of the tournament’s competitive spirit and the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where one player’s brilliance can shift the momentum dramatically.
