COLOMBO - In a match that had everything a cricket fan could ask for, England pulled off a remarkable comeback to defeat New Zealand by four wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium, chasing down 160 with just three balls to spare in a pulsating T20 World Cup Super 8 encounter.

The result does more than just add another win to England's campaign. It breathes life into Pakistan's semi-final ambitions, setting up what promises to be a dramatic final day of group-stage action.

Will Jacks, who has been nothing short of sensational throughout this tournament, once again proved why he is the man for the big occasion. The Surrey all-rounder delivered a match-winning performance with both bat and ball, collecting two crucial wickets before hammering an unbeaten 32 off just 18 deliveries when his team needed him most. It was his fourth Player of the Match award of the tournament, a staggering achievement that cements his status as one of the premier white-ball cricketers in the world right now.

But the story of this chase was not just about Jacks. It was about a partnership forged under extreme pressure. When England found themselves in deep trouble, teetering on the edge of collapse, the 22-year-old Rehan Ahmed strode to the crease with composure well beyond his years. What followed was extraordinary.

Jacks and Ahmed combined for a record 7th-wicket partnership of 44 runs, dismantling New Zealand's attack with a blend of calculated aggression and ice-cold nerve. Ahmed, in particular, was breathtaking in the closing stages, smashing an unbeaten 19 off a mere seven deliveries to carry England over the finish line. The young leg-spinner-turned-finisher launched boundaries with abandon, treating the Colombo crowd to some of the most exhilarating hitting of the entire tournament.

Earlier, New Zealand had posted a competitive 159 for 7 from their 20 overs, a total that looked increasingly imposing as England's top and middle order faltered. The Black Caps will feel this was a game that slipped through their fingers, particularly given the commanding position they held when England's fifth and sixth wickets fell in quick succession.

Yet cricket has a way of producing heroes from the most unlikely positions, and Jacks and Ahmed rewrote the script in emphatic fashion.

The result sends immediate shockwaves through the tournament standings. Pakistan, who had been staring at elimination, now have a lifeline, albeit a slender one. Babar Azam's side must beat Sri Lanka in their do-or-die Super 8 clash in Pallekele on February 28, and they cannot simply win. They must win by a massive margin, either bowling Sri Lanka out and restricting them to a defeat of 64 runs or more, or chasing down whatever target is set within 13.1 overs.

It is a tall order by any measure, but Pakistan have produced miracles before in World Cup cricket, and the Green Shirts will take any chance they can get.

For England, the victory is a statement of depth and resilience. A team that has sometimes been accused of relying too heavily on its top order has now found match-winners lower down the batting lineup. Jacks continues to be the heartbeat of this campaign, and Ahmed's emergence as a genuine finisher adds a dangerous new dimension.

As the tournament hurtles toward the knockout stages, one thing is certain: the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka is delivering drama by the barrel. And with Pakistan's fate hanging in the balance, the cricketing world will be glued to every ball in Pallekele.