Pallekele, Feb 24 (NationPress) England's captain Harry Brook expressed that his team arrived with a definitive goal and achieved it flawlessly, marking their place as the first team to secure a semifinal spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday.

“We’ve come here to accomplish that mission, and we did it,” Brook stated following the Super 8 stage battle.

Brook showcased his leadership with a phenomenal century, scoring 100 runs off 51 balls, which included 10 fours and 4 sixes, anchoring England’s chase of 165 runs.

With this achievement, he became the first captain to hit a century in a men's T20 World Cup and only the third English batsman to score a century in the tournament, joining the ranks of Alex Hales and Jos Buttler. This innings also marked the first century by an England captain in men’s T20 internationals.

Discussing his batting position shift to No. 3, Brook credited head coach Brendon McCullum. “Baz, the mastermind behind it. He approached me this morning to discuss strategies. We aimed to optimize the Power-play since they know I like to take the offensive. Thankfully, it worked out well, and we got off to a great start.”

Brook admitted that he had been contemplating this approach for some time. “It had been on my mind for a while.”

He also shared a light-hearted moment with McCullum prior to the match: “Baz asked this morning - ‘How about batting at No. 3? Pakistan is your team’.”

Earlier, England’s bowling attack set the stage effectively. Although Pakistan batted first, they could only muster 164 runs for 9 wickets. Sahibzada Farhan contributed a solid 63 runs, with notable support from Babar Azam (25), Fakhar Zaman (25), and Shadab Khan (23 not out). Liam Dawson excelled with a bowling figure of 3 for 24, while Jamie Overton (2 for 26) and Jofra Archer (2 for 32) maintained pressure on the Pakistani batting lineup.

Brook emphasized the significance of early wickets. “It’s crucial in T20 cricket to start strong, and Jofra was able to do that. It puts them on the back foot early.”

The chase was fraught with challenges. England faced difficulties, despite contributions from Will Jacks (28) and Sam Curran (16). Nonetheless, Brook's counterattack steadied the innings as the finish grew tense, reminiscent of past disappointments.

“It's always satisfying to win a cricket match. I felt a bit anxious towards the end. I was about to tell Baz, 'Let’s hope this isn’t another Oval (vs India)’,” he remarked.

When asked if the batting order would remain consistent moving forward, Brook remained cautious. “That’s a discussion for me and Baz to have. I don’t expect much to change, but you never know.”

With a Super Eight victory against Sri Lanka already secured and Pakistan’s match against New Zealand being washed out, England's triumph confirmed their status as the first semifinalists for the 2026 tournament.