England’s captain Harry Brook was all smiles after his team’s heart-stopping 4-wicket conquest of New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage. The match in Colombo saw England chase down 160 in a dramatic finish, thanks to a blistering unfinished partnership between Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed.
With the scoreboard reading 117 for 6, all hopes rested on Jacks and Rehan. The pair unleashed 44 runs in 16 balls, including boundaries galore, to clinch victory with balls remaining. Jacks’ 32 not out off 18 balls featured aggressive strokeplay, while Rehan’s quickfire 19 off 7 ensured no further drama.
Brook lauded their efforts: ‘We’ve seen Rehan’s potential in the nets, and with Jacks, they ripped the match away from New Zealand.’ Jacks also claimed 2 wickets earlier, earning his record fourth Player of the Match in the tournament.
The chase began disastrously: Salt fell for 2, Buttler for 0. Brook steadied with 26, supported by Banton’s 33 and Curran’s 24. The bold selection of Rehan over Overton paid dividends, as Brook explained their adaptive strategy to match pitch conditions against the Kiwis.
England’s third consecutive Super 8 win positions them strongly. This victory underscores their depth and never-say-die spirit, leaving fans buzzing about their title aspirations.