England Hold Nerve to Beat Pakistan, Become First Semi-finalists

Kandy | 24 Feb 2026 : England survived a late scare to beat Pakistan by two wickets in a tense T20 World Cup clash, becoming the first team to qualify for the semi-finals. The match had its ups and downs, but England stayed calm in the final moments to seal a crucial win and keep their strong run going in the tournament.

Pakistan, after winning the toss, had a shaky start as early wickets put them under pressure. The innings steadied when Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan came together, but the momentum never fully shifted. Farhan scored a fighting half-century, yet regular wickets in the later overs stopped Pakistan from accelerating. They eventually finished with 164/9, a total that looked competitive but not completely safe.

Defending the score, Pakistan struck early and hard. Shaheen Afridi removed key England batters in quick time, pushing the chasing side onto the back foot. With pressure mounting, England captain Harry Brook took responsibility and played a composed, attacking innings. He controlled the chase smartly and kept England in the hunt despite losing partners around him.

The game went down to the wire as Pakistan picked up late wickets and tried to force a collapse. England, however, held their composure and crossed the line with five balls to spare. With this win, England not only topped their Super 8 group but also booked an early place in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026, showing why they remain one of the most dangerous teams in big matches.