In the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan, England emerged victorious by two wickets at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
Having put to chase a target of 165 runs, England scored 166 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 19.1 overs. Opening the innings, Phil Salt was dismissed for a one-ball duck. Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler scored two runs in three balls.
Skipper Harry Brook smashed a stunning century in 51 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and four maximums. Jacob Bethell scored eight runs in 10 balls, including a boundary. Tom Banton scored two runs in six balls.
Sam Curran accumulated 16 runs in 15 balls, including a boundary. Facing 23 balls, Will Jacks garnered 28 runs, with the help of a boundary and two maximums. Jamie Overton departed on a three-ball duck. Liam Dawson and Jofra Archer stayed unbeaten on one and five runs, respectively. Dawson`s innings included one ball, whereas Archer`s knock of two balls included a boundary.
Pakistan`s Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed four wickets for 30 runs in four overs. Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq also bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, having opted to bat first, Pakistan`s opening batsman Sahibzada Farhan scored 63 runs in 45 deliveries, with the help of seven boundaries and two maximums. Fellow opening batsman Saim Ayub departed after scoring seven runs in seven balls, including a boundary.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha was dismissed on five runs in six balls, including a boundary.
Premier batsman Babar Azam garnered 25 runs after facing 24 balls. His knock also included two boundaries. Fakhar Zaman also managed to register 25 runs in 16 balls, including two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Facing five balls, Usman Khan scored eight runs, including a maximum. Shadab Khan gave the finishing touches to Pakistan`s innings. Having faced 11 balls, he scored 23 runs, with the help of four boundaries. With this, the “Green Shirts” posted a total of 164 runs for the loss of nine wickets.
England`s Liam Dawson returned with the figures of three wickets for 24 runs in four overs. Jamie Overton also bagged two wickets by conceding 26 runs in three overs. Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid also chipped in with two and one wickets, respectively.
