England has officially made history! By reaching their fifth consecutive T20 World Cup semifinal, the Three Lions have cemented their status as T20 royalty. Led by a record-breaking century from Harry Brook—the first-ever captain to hit a ton in the tournament—England overcame Pakistan in a Pallekele thriller. With the Lions in peak form, the 2026 trophy is now theirs to lose.
In the volatile world of T20 cricket, where a single over can change a tournament, England has found a way to stay at the top. By securing their spot in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal, England has just become the first team to reach five consecutive semifinals (2016–2026). Whether it's the rainy tracks of Pallekele or the heat of Mumbai, the "English Lions" have found a permanent residence in the knockout stages. They've achieved a streak that began back in 2016:
No other nation—not India, not Australia, not Pakistan—has maintained this level of relentless excellence for 10 years across 4 continents.
While the headlines have recently focused on "unwanted" records (like Abhishek Sharma's string of ducks), Harry Brook decided to remind the world what greatness looks like.
For 19 years, no captain had ever scored a century in a T20 World Cup. Legends like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ricky Ponting came close, but the triple-figure mark remained elusive. That changed on February 24, 2026, when England's captain Harry Brook promoting himself up the order in the high-pressure chase at Pallekele, Brook blasted 100 off just 51 balls. He didn't just break the curse; he shattered it "the right way."
Harry Brook is now the FIRST captain to score a century in T20 World Cup history.
He officially surpassed Chris Gayle's 16-year-old record (98) for the highest score by a captain in the tournament. It was a "Captain's Knock" in the truest sense, guiding his team through a middle-order collapse to secure qualification with just balls to spare.
Playing in Sri Lanka and India requires a special kind of tactical flexibility. England's ability to adapt its "Bazball"- inspired T20 aggression to the gripping subcontinental surfaces has been the difference-maker.
As the tournament shifts gears toward the semifinals, the question is no longer if England can compete, but who can stop them. They have conquered the heat, the spin, and the history books.
Also Read: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: Dates, Matches & Venue Details
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