England vs Pakistan LIVE: ICC T20 World Cup 2026

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Matthew Henry

BBC Sport journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Harry Brook is benefitting from being in during the powerplay because he is by no means middling some of his shots.

They may not have carried to a fielder running off the boundary, if there was one there, but he can play these shots because of that.

Eng 56-3

Tom Banton bungles a reverse sweep off Shadab Khan then picks up a single with a more orthodox poke down the ground.

Harry Brook then picks up a couple with a nudge through mid-wicket.

Eng 53-3

Shadab Khan fizzes the ball in his palms as he prepares to bowl the first over after the drinks break.

Tom Banton punches his first ball square but there's no run on offer.

How long before we see Banton sweep and reverse sweep?

drinks break

England 53-3 at drinks

Beverage time at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium.

England have lost a few wickets but will be happy with their run rate.

Much depends on Harry Brook here, you sense.

Eng 47-3

Tom Banton the new batter as Mohammad Nawaz begins his first over.

"Shabash, Shabash" chirps Usman Khan from behind the stumps after his first couple of deliveries but Harry Brook ups the ante when he gets on strike.

The England skipper strikes back-to-back fours including a flamboyant inside-out drive which flies through the covers.

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Matthew Henry

BBC Sport journalist on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That almost sums up everything we've seen from England throughout this tournament.

The batters get in, get a little bit of a start and then pick out a fielder in the deep. It has happened all the way through this tournament, again and again.

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Aatif Nawaz

Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Nobody will be breathing a bigger sigh of relief than Usman Tariq right now!

He is smiling, he joins the huddle, he is relieved. Jacob Bethell doesn't make his second life count.

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Aatif Nawaz

Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That's got to be the worst drop of the World Cup so far!

It was spooned up in the air and he had all the time in the world to get underneath it. He got underneath it and he got his hands to it, but somehow the ball broke through his palms and dropped to the ground.

Usman Tariq - goodness gracious me, that was appalling!

Eng 20-2

"Listen to the ground, There is movement all around" are the opening lyrics from Night Fever, by the way.

An appropriate segue for how England should play spin this evening as Saim Ayub is the first tweaker into the frary.

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