Harry Brook's Century Sends England to World Cup Semis

When England found themselves struggling at 58-4, captain Harry Brook stepped up with the performance of a lifetime to keep his team's World Cup dreams alive.

Brook made exactly 100 runs off just 51 balls in Pallekele, leading England to a nail-biting two-wicket victory over Pakistan. The win secures England's spot as the first team to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

The match started badly for England when Phil Salt was dismissed on the very first ball. Brook made the bold decision to promote himself to number three, a position he'd never batted in his international T20 career.

That gamble paid off spectacularly. While teammates fell around him, including Jos Buttler for just three runs, Brook stayed calm and delivered when it mattered most.

His innings featured 10 fours and four sixes, with powerful straight hits and cover drives that had fans on their feet. He reached his century with back-to-back boundaries over mid-off, becoming only the third English player ever to score centuries in all three cricket formats.

Brook was bowled out immediately after reaching his milestone, but he'd already done enough. England needed just 10 more runs from three overs, though they made it interesting by losing more wickets before Jofra Archer sealed the win with five balls remaining.

Why This Inspires

Brook's performance means so much more than just numbers on a scoreboard. After a difficult winter that included injury and criticism, he showed the kind of leadership and composure that defines champions.

He read the situation perfectly, adjusting his aggressive style when wickets fell and accelerating when England needed momentum. His smart decision to bat at number three kept him away from Pakistan's dangerous spinners early on and let him attack during the powerplay.

England will now return to India for their semi-final match next week. While they haven't been flawless throughout the tournament, moments like Brook's century prove they have the talent and heart to go all the way.

Other English players also shone, with Liam Dawson taking three wickets and Jamie Overton helping restrict Pakistan to 164 runs. The teamwork combined with individual brilliance is exactly what championship runs are made of.

One captain's courage under pressure just reminded the cricket world why England remains a force to be reckoned with on sport's biggest stage.