Pahredale, Feb, 26: England have become the first team to enter the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup. In the Super-8 round, the team secured their second consecutive victory and retained the top position in Group 2.
After defeating Sri Lanka in the first match, England beat Pakistan by 2 wickets in their second Super-8 match held today. Batting first, Pakistan scored 164 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. In reply, England achieved the target in 19.1 overs, losing 8 wickets.
Brook’s Century
After winning the toss, Pakistan chose to bat. England started with disciplined bowling and picked up 2 wickets for 27 runs. Opener M. Ayub scored 3 and vice-captain Salman Agha scored 5 before getting out.
Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan then steadied the innings with a 46-run partnership, taking the total to 73. In the 11th over, Jamie Overton dismissed Babar (25). Farhan and Fakhar Zaman added another useful 49-run partnership. Farhan scored a half-century before being dismissed for 63 (7 fours, 2 sixes) when the team total reached 122.
After that, Pakistan lost momentum. The middle-order batsmen failed while trying to accelerate the scoring. Wickets fell at regular intervals. Fakhar scored 25, Usman Khan 8, Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Afridi scored 2 runs each. Shadab Khan contributed 23 runs, helping Pakistan reach 164/9.
For England, Liam Dawson took 3 wickets, while Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton took 2 wickets each.
England’s Chase
England also faced early trouble and were 58/4 at one stage. Phil Salt was dismissed without scoring, Jos Buttler made 2, Jacob Bethell 8, and Tom Banton 2.
However, Harry Brook played a brilliant innings. While wickets kept falling at one end, Brook played aggressively and continued scoring freely.
England were 103/5 when Sam Curran was dismissed for 16. Brook completed his half-century and continued his attacking play. Will Jacks supported him well, and the duo added 52 runs for the sixth wicket.
Brook went on to score a magnificent century, hitting 10 fours and 4 sixes. He was dismissed when the team score was 155.
Even the remaining 10 runs for victory became difficult. In the 19th over, Mohammad Nawaz dismissed both Brook and Jamie Overton. Jacks scored 28 (1 four, 2 sixes). England needed 3 runs in the final over. On the first ball, Jofra Archer hit a boundary to seal the victory.
Brief Scores
Pakistan – 164/9
Farhan 63 (45 balls, 7 fours, 2 sixes), Babar 25, Fakhar 25, Shadab 23 (4 fours)
Bowling: Dawson 4-0-24-3, Overton 3-0-26-2, Archer 4-0-11-1
England – 166/8
Brook 100 (51 balls, 10 fours, 4 sixes), Curran 16, Jacks 28 (1 four, 2 sixes)
Bowling: Afridi 4-0-30-4, Tariq 4-0-31-2, Nawaz 3-0-26-1
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