England began their chase of a 165-run target in this crucial Super 8 match against Pakistan. The pressure was clear from the start, as both teams pushed for a spot in the knockout stage of the T20 World Cup 2026.
After Pakistan posted a competitive total, the focus quickly turned to England’s top order. Their approach in the first six overs would shape the direction of the chase. With Pakistan’s pace attack known for early breakthroughs, the powerplay carried extra importance in this high-stakes encounter.
| Pakistan | England |
|---|---|
| Babar Azam | Jos Buttler (WK) |
| Usman Khan (WK) | Harry Brook (C) |
| Shadab Khan | Jacob Bethell |
| Fakhar Zaman | Tom Banton |
| Salman Ali Agha (C) | Phil Salt |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Will Jacks |
| Saim Ayub | Adil Rashid |
| Shaheen Afridi | Sam Curran |
| Salman Mirza | Liam Dawson |
| Usman Tariq | Jamie Overton |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Jofra Archer |
Shaheen Afridi made an immediate impact. He dismissed Phil Salt on the very first ball of the innings. England managed just 3 runs in the opening over.
Harry Brook walked in at number three under early pressure. Salman Mirza bowled the second over, where England recovered slightly and scored 11 runs.
Shaheen returned in the third over and struck again. He removed Jos Buttler, who scored 3 runs off 2 balls. England added only 4 runs in that over.
Jacob Bethell came in at number four as wickets kept falling. Saim Ayub bowled the fourth over, conceding 11 runs. Pakistan also dropped an easy catch, with Usman Tariq missing a key opportunity.
Shaheen delivered another breakthrough in the fifth over. He dismissed Jacob Bethell and completed three wickets in his 3rd over. England scored 7 runs in that over.
Mohammad Nawaz bowled the final over of the powerplay, but it proved expensive. England collected 17 runs in the sixth over. Harry Brook led the counterattack with aggressive strokes.
At the end of six overs, England reached 53-3. Brook stood out with 41 runs off 20 balls, keeping the chase alive despite early setbacks.