That was a chase that swung back and forth before settling into something quite extraordinary. Shaheen Afridi lit up the contest, striking with the very first ball as Phil Salt fell for a golden duck. He went on to make further inroads inside the powerplay, removing Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell to leave England wobbling at 35 for 3. What followed, though, was a masterclass from the England captain. Harry Brook took control after Tom Banton’s departure, batting with a freedom that never tipped into recklessness. Boundaries flowed regularly, but just as crucial was his ability to keep the scoreboard moving through sharp strike rotation in the middle overs. When Will Jacks arrived after Sam Curran’s dismissal, the tone didn’t change. Their sixth-wicket partnership was built on relentless pressure. Crisp running, smart placement and timely acceleration were the highlights of that partnership. In the process, Brook brought up a superb hundred in the 17th over, a landmark that showcased the authority of his innings. Afridi returned into the attack to have the final word, dismissing Brook with the last ball of his spell, but by then the damage was done. It was a special knock under pressure, and a defining one too, as England became the first team of the tournament to secure a place in the semi-finals. Thing did get close towards the end, but after that special knock by Brook - England deserved to win tonight.
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Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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