After defeating Pakistan by two wickets in the Group 2 Super 8 match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday, England qualified for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup thanks to captain Harry Brook‘s incredible comeback with a stunning 100 off 51 deliveries batting for the first time at No. 3.

As the first captain to score a century in a men’s T20 World Cup match, Brook created history. With little time remaining, England was able to chase down Pakistan’s score of 164 for 9 thanks to his outstanding 100 off 51 balls, which featured 10 fours and four sixes.

For the first time in his T20I career, Brook was promoted up the order. He replied with authority, hitting 41 of England’s 53 Power-play runs and virtually single-handedly kept the match alive. Brook became the first captain in T20 World Cup history to achieve a century.

From the first delivery of the chase, drama developed. Phil Salt edged inside the line to Usman Khan for a golden duck, but Shaheen Shah Afridi’s inswing with the new ball ended his stay.

Shaheen continued his dismal run of form (26, 21, 3, 3, 7, 2) in this competition, going without a boundary since leaving Mumbai, when he hit another ball with an outswinging delivery to Jos Buttler, who under-edged it for two runs.

Usman Tariq dropped Jacob Bethell at short fine leg on the six-run after he briefly threatened Shaheen. Shaheen then bowled him out, taking three wickets in the Powerplay. Shaheen’s hard length and unwavering accuracy were crucial to his success despite his lack of swing, and he had now taken eight wickets in his opening over of the T20 World Cup, matching Angelo Mathews.

Pakistan had a disastrous start in the powerplay after opting to bat first, losing two early wickets. Saim Ayub, who has once again struggled in the tournament, did not make an impression at bat. Jofra Archer dismissed him on a run-a-ball seven after testing him with several bouncers early on.

Liam Dawson scored in his opening over, and captain Salman Ali Agha (5) was removed in the third over. Sahibzada Farhan had a smooth start, hitting the fence four times, while Babar Azam showed promise with two clean boundaries before halftime, keeping Pakistan in the match at 46/2 despite the setbacks.

The key to slowing things down was the introduction of spin. Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid collaborated to get the pitch’s grip and variety. The hitters were forced to play conservatively by their well-organized lines and small speed variations. Pakistan needed to pick up speed in the second half of the innings after getting stuck.

With a stunning change of pace, Fakhar Zaman used his feet to hurl Will Jacks straight back over his head for a massive six. As the 14th over produced 16 runs, Farhan increased the pressure in the same over by blasting a huge 100-meter hit over midwicket. With a tough and tenacious fifty in 37 deliveries, Farhan supported his century in the previous game, but Overton undid him for a 63 off 45 balls.

At a crucial juncture, Dawson made a brilliant move to dismiss Fakhar Zaman. Fakhar misread Rashid’s subsequent googlies, sending the second one off a thick top edge high toward the leg side. Dawson made a terrific tumbling catch on his back after sprinting to his right with a short, fine leg.

Usman Khan started with two runs after taking advantage of another England misfield, then he calmly slog-swept over midwicket for six. Returning for his second spell, Dawson dismissed Usman after being hammered for a four off a misfield. He then ended his innings with 3 for 24 by dismissing Mohammad Nawaz on the subsequent delivery.

England was struggling at 58 for 4 and then at 103 for 5 after Usman Tariq’s double strike in the middle overs. But Brook refused to give up. He scored an incredible hundred runs in just 50 balls, tearing up Pakistan’s bowling attack.

He followed it up with a four through mid-off after hitting Afridi for six over cover. With just 10 runs needed, he departed the field to a standing ovation despite being bowled by a pinpoint yorker.

When England lost two wickets to Mohammad Nawaz, they nearly blew their lead and forced the match into the last over. Salman Mirza was then driven through midwicket by Jofra Archer to ensure victory. With one game remaining, this victory assured England a place in the semi-finals, marking their fifth successive appearance in the men’s T20 World Cup.

Despite Sahibzada Farhan’s outstanding 63, Pakistan still needed to defeat Sri Lanka and hope for favorable outcomes elsewhere.

In a Super 8 stage encounter at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday, captain Harry Brook made a historic century as England defeated Pakistan by two wickets, making them the first side to advance to the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Brief scores:
Pakistan 164/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 63, Fakhar Zaman 25; Liam Dawson 3-24, Jamie Overton 2-26)
England 166/8 in 19.1 overs (Harry Brook 100, Will Jacks 28; Shaheen Afridi 4-30, Usman Tariq 2-31)