England faces defeat in semi-final against Pakistan

Captain Harry Brook's (100) magnificent century helped England defeat Pakistan by two wickets in the Super Eight match on Tuesday, securing a spot in the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Pakistan had set a challenging score of 164 for nine, thanks to opener Sahibzada Farhan's (63) impressive half-century, but England rode on Brook's record 100, made off just 51 balls with 10 fours and four sixes, to reach 166 for eight in 19.1 overs. This was Brook's best innings as captain in the T20 World Cup, earning him the Player of the Match award. The chase was a seesaw affair that turned at crucial junctures. Shaheen Afridi struck on the very first ball, dismissing Phil Salt for a duck, and then removed Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell in the powerplay, leaving England at 35 for three. However, England's captain then took charge, playing a superb innings after Tom Banton's dismissal, batting aggressively yet cautiously. A sixth-wicket partnership with Will Jacks maintained the tempo even under pressure. Brook completed his century in the 17th over, and although Afridi dismissed him on the final ball of his spell, the damage was done. This was a special and crucial innings under pressure, which took England to the semi-finals. Afridi finished with four wickets for 30 runs, the most successful bowler.

Earlier, Pakistan had set a difficult score for England but ultimately failed to defend it. After Saim Ayub's early dismissal, Farhan and Babar Azam steadied the innings. Babar played a solid 25, while Farhan scored 63 off 45 balls with seven fours and two sixes. Fakhar Zaman (25) and Shadab Khan (23) also accelerated the scoring, taking the team past 160. For England, Liam Dawson was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 24 runs and checking Pakistan's momentum to a considerable extent.