Pallekele, February 24 – England captain Harry Brook said his team arrived with a clear mission and executed it perfectly after becoming the first team to reach the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, defeating Pakistan by two wickets in a thrilling match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday.
“We came here to achieve this, and we did it,” Brook said after the Super 8 stage match.
Brook led the way with a historic century off 51 balls, smashing 10 fours and four sixes in a dominant innings that anchored England’s chase of 165.
In doing so, he became the first captain to score a century in a men’s T20 World Cup, and only the third England batsman to achieve this in the tournament after Alex Hales and Jos Buttler. His century also marked the first century by an England captain in men’s T20Is.
Explaining his move to No. 3, Brook credited head coach Brendon McCullum. “Baz, the mastermind behind it. He spoke with me this morning. We wanted to try and maximize the Power-play a little more. He knows I like to take the game on. Thankfully, it worked, and we got a good start.”
Brook admitted that the idea had been on his mind. "I had been thinking about it for a while.”
He also revealed a light-hearted exchange with McCullum before the game: “Baz said this morning - ‘What do you think about No. 3? Pakistan is your team.’”
Earlier in the evening, England’s bowlers set the tone. Pakistan chose to bat but could only manage 164 for 9. Sahibzada Farhan scored a solid 63, with useful contributions from Babar Azam (25), Fakhar Zaman (25), and Shadab Khan (23 not out). Liam Dawson stood out with 3 for 24, while Jamie Overton (2 for 26) and Jofra Archer (2 for 32) kept control of the scoring.
Brook highlighted the importance of early breakthroughs. "It’s important in any T20 cricket game to get off to a good start, and Jofra has been able to do that. It puts them on the back foot early.”
The chase was anything but easy. England struggled at times, even with support from Will Jacks (28) and Sam Curran (16). However, Brook’s counterattack helped stabilize the innings. The finish became tense, reminding everyone of past disappointments.
“It’s always nice to just win a game of cricket. It was a bit nerve-wracking at the end. I was about to say to Baz, 'Hopefully this isn't another Oval (vs India)’,” he admitted.
On whether the batting order would remain the same going forward, Brook remained measured. “That’s something for me and Baz to discuss. I don’t think much will change, but you never know.”
With a Super Eight win over Sri Lanka already in the bag, and Pakistan’s clash against New Zealand washed out, England’s victory confirmed them as the first semi-finalists of the 2026 tournament.
