ENG Vs PAK, T20 World Cup: Harry Brook's Captain Innings Earns Him 'Knock Of The Tournament' Praise

England white-ball captain Harry Brook delivered a match-winning performance with the bat in the team's thrilling eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026 Group 2 Super 8 clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday, February 24.

England became the first to qualify for the semifinal after their second consecutive win in the tournament, earlier defeated Sri Lanka. With a 166-run target, the two-time champions chased it down with five balls to spare in the final over. Harry Brook led the batting with a brilliant knock of 100 off 51 balls, including 10 fours and 4 sixes, at a strike rate of 196.08. Will Jacks chipped in with a crucial innings of 28 off 23 balls.

Earlier, Liam Dawson-led bowling attack restricted Pakistan to 164/9, despite Sahibzada Farhan's 63-run knock. Dawson registered figures of 3/24 at an economy rate of 6 in his spell of four overs. Jamie Overton (2/26) and Jofra Archer (2/32) picked four wickets together to secure England's win.

Brook's Measured Knock was on Display

Before the Super 8 against Pakistan, Harry Brook's batting approach was under scrutiny as he registered the scores of 17,4, 14, and 14 in the last four matches against West Indies, Scotland, Italy, and Sri Lanka. However, the England captain stepped up for the side and delivered when it mattered the most.

Brook was left in a tricky position as England collapsed to 58/4 in 7.1 overs in the 166-run chase, but he remained under pressure and anchored the innings. Harry Brook formed a crucial 45-run stand for the fifth wicket with Sam Curran before the latter's dismissal for 18 at 103/5. Thereafter, the England captain was joined by Will Jacks at the crease to carry on the team's run chase.

Clean and confident! Harry Brook steps out with confidence and sends Shadab Khan straight back over the ropes for a huge six! He brought up his fifty under pressure, but the job is not done yet. ICC Men's #T20WorldCup | SUPER 8, #ENGvPAK ➡️ LIVE NOW... twitter/qjZm3RDV7h

- Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 24, 2026

The duo steadied England's ship and built a momentum-shifting partnership, with Brook taking charge of the run chase by playing a measured innings, mixing caution with calculated aggression. While batting on 90, Brook smashed a six and four off Shaheen Afridi to complete his first century of the T20 World Cup in just 50 balls, batting at a strike rate of 200.

The first captain to score a CENTURY in the ICC Men's #T20WorldCup! Harry Brook brings up a carefully crafted century to put England in pole position to qualify for the semi-finals. ICC Men's #T20WorldCup | SUPER 8, #ENGvPAK ➡️ LIVE NOW twitter/tJokiYhD7y

- Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 24, 2026

Right after scoring a century, Harry Brook was dismissed by Afridi, ending his spectacular performance, putting the team on the brink of victory. However, England went into a brief panic mode following a mini-collapse, with the dismissals of Will Jacks and Jamie Overton (0), and they were reduced to 161/8, needing 4 runs off 7 balls to win.

When England required 4 off six balls to win, Jofra Archer held his nerve and smashed the winning boundary to seal a dramatic two-wicket win, confirming England's place in the T20 World Cup semifinals.

Harry Brook's Captain Knock Earns Massive Praise

Harry Brook's captain knock grabbed the attention of the fans and cricket enthusiasts around the world as they were left impressed by the way the England skipper approachedthe high-pressure chase with maturity and composure. From stabilizing the innings after a top-order collapse to accelerating at the right moments, Brook showcased leadership of the highest order.

Taking to their X handles (formerly Twitter), fans and cricket enthusiasts lavished praise on Brook for his performance, calling it ''knock of the World Cup', with many comparing it to Virat Kohli's iconic MCG innings at the T20 World Cup 2022, and praising his composure, fearless strokeplay, and captaincy under pressure.

Others described Brook's knock as a career-defining, dream-crushing masterclass that sealed England's spot in the semifinals and showcased his generational talent.

This is a Virat Kohli at MCG level knock by Harry Brook. just as goodSpecial special stuff

- AayushKataria (@AKTalksSports) February 24, 2026

Take a bow, Harry Brook. He has treated the Pakistani attack with the disdain our tourists (rightly) have for consuming Icelandic fermented shark.

- Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) February 24, 2026

Absolute delight Harry Brook when he decides to play the ball on merit. Super impressive knock this.

- Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) February 24, 2026

Without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of the great hundreds in T20 World Cup history. This will be a milestone in Harry Brook's career.

- Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2026

There was never any doubt about Harry Brook's talent, what a classy hundred in a tough situation!! He just needs to curb his temperament a bit and learn to play the averages better, he would be absolutely unstoppable!!

- Neha_LFC_JR (@Lfc_NehaJ_Rawal) February 24, 2026

He was under the pump with the pub brawl that came to light. Harry Brook couldn't have asked for a better time to play a captain's knock - a 50-ball 100 - and all but seal England's place in the #T20WorldCup semifinal #PAKvENG

- Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) February 24, 2026

Harry Brook, you are keeping cricket alive. Extraordinary hits.

- Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 24, 2026

Harry Brook's captaincy has been top notch. Brilliant bowling changes and smart use of spinners. Poor fielding, though, has let them down.

- Bhawana (@cricbhawana) February 24, 2026

Knock of the World Cup from Harry Brook.

- Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) February 24, 2026

One of the best T20 knocks ever. Harry Brook. Take a bow.

- Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) February 24, 2026

Harry Brook didn't just play a captain's knock; he played a dream-crushing one. From 58/4 to a match-winning masterclass in Pallekele. He didn't just break the chase, he broke Pakistan's #T20WorldCup hopes. A leader in every sense.@EnglandCricket_ @Harry_Brook_88 @TheRealPCB

- (@DasBagoo) February 24, 2026

How good was that knock from Harry Brook, a hundred off just 51 balls as England beat Pakistan by 2 wickets.#T20WorldCup2026 #ENGvsPAK

- Debasis Sen (@debasissen) February 24, 2026

What a hundred by Harry Brook to take England into the semifinals. Best knock of this T20 World Cup. twitter/bc5utx3555

- R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) February 24, 2026

Harry Brook is a generational talent alright & he is showing why he is rated as next gen superstar. He is taking his English side to safe shores has mixed caution with aggression brilliantly. The wickets are going at the other end while he is simply unfazed by the situation.... twitter/GGbvF1KfzK

- Akshat (@Akshatgoel1408) February 24, 2026

In the T20 World Cup 2026, Harry Brook is the leading run-getter for England with 202 runs, including a century and a fifty, at an average of 33.66 and a strike rate of 172.64 in six matches.

In his T20I career, Brook has amassed 1270 runs, including a century and 6 fifties, at an average of 30.97 and a strike rate of 155.44 in 61 matches.

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