England skipper Harry Brook produced a breathtaking rescue act with a 100 off just 51 balls to steer his side to a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in their Super 8 Group 2 clash at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Promoted to No. 3 for the first time in his T20I career, Brook smashed 10 fours and four sixes, scoring 41 of England’s 53 Powerplay runs and almost single-handedly keeping his side in the hunt. His innings also made him the first England captain to score a T20 World Cup century.“Whenever we lose, it feels like he’s the one making the difference. But credit where it’s due – he batted brilliantly today. Hopefully, he saves some runs for the game against New Zealand. Especially in that kind of form, he plays all around the ground – 360 degrees – which makes it very challenging to set fields and execute plans. They were smart. They didn’t attack too hard, they just rotated the strike well,” said Salman Agha, reflecting on Brook’s dominance.

The chase began with drama as Shaheen Afridi removed Phil Salt for a golden duck and Jos Buttler under-edged the next delivery for just 2. Shaheen accounted for Bethell as well, finishing with 3 wickets in the Powerplay. But Brook weathered the storm, punishing spin and pace alike. He launched Mohammad Nawaz for 4, 4, and 6 in a single over and smashed Shadab Khan for a 96-metre straight six, effectively turning the contest on its head.“Started well with the bat, but we couldn’t finish the way we wanted. At the end of the day, you have to give credit to the opposition. The way Harry Brook batted was outstanding – he completely took the game away from us,” Agha said after the match, underlining the impact of Brook’s innings.Brook’s century helped England reach 166-8 in 19.1 overs, with Will Jacks adding 28 crucial runs. Pakistan’s Usman Tariq fought valiantly with two key wickets, but Brook remained unflappable, guiding his side to victory with just five balls to spare and securing England’s fifth consecutive men’s T20 World Cup semifinal berth.“It was a mixed surface, but I thought we bowled really well up front. Then Harry came in and played an outstanding innings. We threw everything at him, but he was simply too good for us today,” added Agha, summing up England’s performance and Brook’s match-winning display.Pakistan now need to beat Sri Lanka and hope for favourable results.

NEW DELHI: Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has questioned the leadership of Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi, saying a lack of clarity and freedom may be creating tension between Pakistan’s captain and coach. His comments came after a viral video showed Pakistan captain Salman Agha throwing a bottle in frustration while sitting near head coach Mike Hesson.

Tiwary believes strong leadership is needed for any team to move forward and suggested the current setup may not be giving the coaching staff enough independence. “If any country wants to move ahead, then the leader should be firm in his or her decision-making. There should be clarity, and freedom should be given. I don’t think the PCB chief has given full freedom. Mike Hesson is the current head coach, and he is trying to take the team along,” he told Cricbuzz.He also felt the bottle-throwing incident reflected deeper issues in the dressing room. “In the last game, we saw things got a bit frustrated between Hesson and the captain, Salman Ali Agha. Babar Azam was not sent out. Agha threw the bottle. It just proves that trust isn’t there,” Tiwary added.However, Hesson has dismissed claims of any rift and explained the incident differently. He said Agha was simply upset after getting out, not angry with the coach. “I’ve actually got sent that video, and you guys have really got that wrong. I’ll talk you through what happened. I was going over to talk to Salman about getting (Mohammad) Nawaz to put the pads on as a left-hander, and Agha was upset that he just got out, so he threw the bottle into the ground,” Hesson explained.He further clarified that the discussion was about batting plans, not an argument. “(It had) nothing to do with the conversation we were having… So it was a really simple conversation… So, amazing what people can interpret sometimes,” he said.

Rohit Sharma and Wasim Akram (Image credit: X)

A warm hug between Rohit Sharma and Wasim Akram stole the spotlight in Colombo — and it came amid the ongoing no-handshake row between India and Pakistan. As the two icons embraced and shared a laugh before Sunday’s high-voltage clash, the moment quickly went viral, standing in sharp contrast to the frostiness that has defined on-field protocol between the two teams.Rohit was present at the venue in his capacity as a brand ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Ahead of the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan encounter, he spent time around the Indian camp, exchanging smiles, hugs and handshakes with players and members of the support staff. The former captain appeared relaxed, soaking in the build-up to cricket’s biggest rivalry while offering encouragement before the big night.

The highlight, however, was his interaction with Akram. The Indian great and the Pakistan pace legend had the ceremonial duty of walking out with the T20 World Cup trophy. Before stepping onto the field at the R Premadasa Stadium, the two chatted briefly, posed for photographs and embraced warmly — a gesture that triggered mixed reactions online.The hug was particularly striking because it unfolded against the backdrop of India’s continued no-handshake stance with the Pakistan team. At the toss, India captain Suryakumar Yadav once again refrained from the customary greeting with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, in line with the approach the Indian side has maintained since the Asia Cup. While the policy has been a talking point in recent meetings, Rohit and Akram’s exchange offered a reminder that respect between players transcends contemporary tensions.Amid the charged atmosphere and packed stands bracing for another fierce chapter in the rivalry, the embrace provided a softer image — two legends from opposite sides of the border united by their shared history in the game.Once the match began, though, the warmth gave way to ruthless efficiency from the defending champions. India crushed Pakistan by 61 runs in their Group A encounter, a result that sealed their progression to the Super Eights.HOW INDIA TROUNCED PAKISTANIshan Kishan’s explosive 77 set the platform as India posted 175. The target of 176 always looked steep under pressure, and India’s bowlers ensured it remained that way.Hardik Pandya set the tone with a wicket-maiden opening over, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan for a four-ball duck after inducing a mistimed pull. Jasprit Bumrah then struck twice in quick succession — first deceiving Saim Ayub with a sharp inswinger and then removing Salman Agha with a tame chip to mid-on. At 13/3 inside two overs, Pakistan’s chase was already in tatters.Babar Azam’s dismissal soon after left Pakistan reeling at 34/4. Usman Khan attempted to mount resistance with an enterprising 44, striking boundaries to briefly lift spirits. However, the required rate kept climbing, and India’s spinners tightened the screws.Kuldeep Yadav delivered a crucial, economical spell that built pressure before Axar Patel produced the breakthrough, stumping Usman just as he threatened to rebuild. From there, wickets fell in a procession. Kuldeep removed Mohammad Nawaz, Tilak Varma struck with his very first ball to dismiss Shadab Khan, and Varun Chakaravarthy chipped in with two scalps.Pandya eventually knocked back Usman Tariq’s middle stump to wrap up proceedings as Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs — their third-lowest total in T20 World Cup history.