England First to Enter Semi-Finals After Two-Wicket Win Over Pakistan
Brook’s Century Powers England; Pakistan Face Do-or-Die Clash with Sri Lanka
England cricket team became the first side to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating Pakistan cricket team by two wickets in a closely contested match on Monday.
Chasing a target of 165, England reached the total in 19.1 overs despite losing eight wickets. Harry Brook’s unbeaten century anchored the innings and ensured England crossed the line under pressure.
Earlier, Pakistan posted 164 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan emerged as the top scorer for Pakistan, while Babar Azam and Saim Ayub once again failed to make a significant contribution at the top order. Observers noted that Pakistan appeared short of at least 10 to 15 runs on a surface that offered value for disciplined batting.
Shaheen Afridi led Pakistan’s bowling effort with four wickets, keeping his side in contention till the final over. However, sloppy fielding and missed opportunities proved costly as England capitalised on key moments.
With this defeat, Pakistan now face Sri Lanka cricket team in a must-win encounter to stay alive in the tournament. [KNT]
