Will Jacks' 3-22 and lower-order runs put England one win from T20 World Cup semi-finals
England moved to the cusp of a T20 World Cup semi-final after a 51-run victory over co‑hosts Sri Lanka on Sunday, and will jacks' contributions with bat and ball were central to that outcome. The win leaves England able to guarantee a top-two finish in their Super 8s group by beating Pakistan in Pallekele on Tuesday or New Zealand in Colombo on Friday.
Will Jacks' all-round performance
Will Jacks made 21 off 14 balls and then opened the bowling for just the third time in his England career, his first opening spell since being clubbed for 22 in an over against Australia at the 2024 tournament in the Caribbean. He completed a four‑over spell with figures of 3-22, reducing Sri Lanka to 34-5 on a tacky pitch and helping England bowl their opponents out for 95. That set the foundation for the 51‑run margin of victory after England had posted 146 for nine, largely propped up by Phil Salt's 62 from 40 balls.
Harry Brook on England's unfinished quest
Captain Harry Brook said the side has not yet produced a flawless performance with the bat, noting that they "still haven't had that perfect game" and that players such as Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton have not produced the big scores the team wants. Brook framed the current results as encouraging: despite inconsistent personal scores, the team has managed to "get over the line and get the job done. " He described Jacks as "a very competitive lad" and "the jack of all trades who can do everything, " praising his fielding, batting and bowling in the tournament.
Pallekele and Colombo: path to a semi-final
England sit top of their Super 8s group while Pakistan and New Zealand both have one point each after their match was rained off, meaning England can mathematically secure a top-two finish and a semi-final spot by winning either of their remaining fixtures. A victory in Pallekele on Tuesday would guarantee that outcome; alternately, a win over New Zealand in Colombo on Friday would achieve the same. England now require one more win to reach the last four.
Sri Lanka match: key numbers at this venue
The slog of England's innings—146 for nine—left them looking below their best with the bat, but the bowlers converted pressure into a comprehensive defence. Jacks' early breakthroughs, combined with the collapse of Sri Lanka to 95 all out, produced a decisive swing. Jacks took two wickets in two balls during the defence of 146, a start that set the tone for the collapse. England had earlier gone through a first group stage in India and Brook had hoped the team would "turn over a new leaf in Sri Lanka, " where they had previously beaten the hosts 3-0 in a T20 warm‑up series at the same venue.
Ashes, friendships and off-field backdrop
Jacks has had a busy winter beyond the World Cup. He made his Ashes debut in Australia and became engaged to his partner Ana in Sydney. Earlier in the Ashes, two wickets he took in the third Test in Adelaide cost 212 runs, and across that series he finished with six wickets for 394 runs. Off the field he featured in tabloid coverage after being photographed with a pint in Noosa. Jacks and Brook have a long history: they were 15 when they faced each other at the Bunbury Festival—Jacks for the London schools' side and Brook for the north of England—and four years later they roomed together with the Under‑19s. When questions were raised about Brook's suitability to captain after off‑field controversy in Wellington, Jacks was put forward to speak to the media in defence of his captain.
What makes this notable is the combination of individual form and team resilience: Jacks has been a consistent match‑influencer, earning three man‑of‑the‑match awards this tournament and producing crucial lower‑order batting displays—39 not out against Nepal and a first T20 fifty of 53 not out against Italy—that have repeatedly changed tight games. The timing matters because England sit one win from a semi‑final on the back of one of those all‑round performers; a victory in either Pallekele or Colombo will end the suspense and secure their progression.
Unclear in the provided context are specifics about subsequent team selection and any tactical changes for the matches in Pallekele and Colombo.
