Harry Brook took a gamble in Pallekele and it paid off in spectacular fashion.
England’s captain promoted himself to No. 3 and blazed his maiden T20 international hundred to haul his side past Pakistan national cricket team and into the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a game to spare.
Brook had opened his first tournament as captain with 53 against Nepal but then fell to spin for fewer than 20 in four successive innings. His solution was bold. He moved up from No. 5 to bat in the powerplay and walked out to face the second ball of the chase after Shaheen Shah Afridi struck with the first.
Afridi removed three in the powerplay and Usman Tariq claimed two more in the middle overs as England slipped to 4-58 and then 5-103. Brook, though, refused to stall. He carved Pakistan’s attack to all parts, reaching a 50 ball hundred by launching Afridi over cover for six and then over mid off for four.
Afridi responded with a pinpoint yorker to bowl him next ball, but Brook departed to a standing ovation with only 10 required. England still contrived to wobble, handing two wickets to Mohammad Nawaz to push the game into the 20th over before Jofra Archer smeared Salman Mirza through midwicket to seal victory.
The win confirmed England’s place in the semi-finals and left them needing a victory over New Zealand national cricket team in Colombo to top the group. They have not yet delivered a complete performance and were ragged in the field, but this is a fifth consecutive men’s T20 World Cup semi-final.
Pakistan must now beat Sri Lanka national cricket team and rely on other results. Sahibzada Farhan’s 63 once again underpinned their innings, yet they stalled badly against spin, with Liam Dawson returning 3-24.
It has been a demanding winter for Brook, punctuated by flashes of brilliance. He struck 135 in New Zealand, played a decisive hand at the MCG during the Ashes and made 136 not out in Sri Lanka to clinch an ODI series.
He had struggled for rhythm at this World Cup, particularly against spin with the field spread, but in Pallekele he appeared to be batting on a different surface to everyone else. He became the first England batter to score a men’s T20I hundred as captain and now has centuries across formats. None of his team-mates passed 30.
Phil Salt edged behind first ball attempting to play for swing that never arrived. Jos Buttler’s lean run continued with an under edge for 2. Brook, by contrast, was crisp and decisive, taking 17 from Nawaz in the final over of the powerplay and advancing down the pitch to loft Shadab Khan for six.
He reached three figures with successive blows off Afridi and even shared a handshake with the fast bowler after being yorked.
Afterwards, Brook revealed that the promotion had been suggested by England coach Brendon McCullum.
“That was all Baz,” he said. “He came to me this morning and said, ‘Look, we might change it up and put you up at No. 3 today.’”
Pakistan’s innings revolved around Farhan, the only batter from his side to register a half century in the tournament. His 283 runs in five innings lead the competition, with Shadab next best for Pakistan on 111.
Early wickets hurt after they chose to bat. Saim Ayub miscued Archer, while Salman Agha found Jamie Overton in the deep as Dawson bowled in the powerplay. Farhan and Babar Azam added 46 from 44 balls but struggled to accelerate.
Farhan briefly threatened to revive the innings, launching Will Jacks for a 100 metre six and taking on Overton after reaching a 37 ball fifty, only to be pinned lbw by a yorker. Fakhar Zaman struck two sixes but fell to Dawson off Adil Rashid, who varied his pace cleverly. Dawson then claimed two in two balls in the 18th over as Pakistan closed on 164.
England crept through the group with three unconvincing wins over Associate opposition and defended a modest total against Sri Lanka. Their fielding again lacked sharpness. Jacob Bethell misfielded twice, Brook spilled a chance at extra cover and Archer conceded a free hit after forgetting his position inside the 30 yard circle.
The batting has yet to click collectively, with Buttler out of touch and Brook the only convincing figure here. Yet England have insisted there is little value in peaking too early at a World Cup. They are through to the knockout stage believing their best may still lie ahead.