KOLKATTA: England on Monday held off a spirited Italy challenge to secure a 24-run win and confirm their place in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup, after a high-scoring Group C clash at Eden Gardens saw momentum swing dramatically across both innings.
Powered by a late onslaught from Will Jacks and decisive death bowling from Sam Curran, England posted 202-7 and then bowled out Italy for 178 while defending 203. The result gave England three wins from four group matches, enough to advance despite an inconsistent campaign.
After being sent in to bat, England’s innings never fully settled at the top. Early wickets slowed progress, with Jos Buttler dismissed for three inside the powerplay. Quick contributions followed but none converted into a dominant score. Phil Salt struck 28, Tom Banton added 30, Jacob Bethell made 23, while captain Harry Brook scored 14. Curran chipped in with a brisk 25 but England slipped to 105-5 and later 128-5 in the 16th over.
The innings changed sharply when Jacks arrived at number seven. Targeting spin and capitalising on fielding lapses, he launched a counter-attack that transformed the total. Jacks hammered an unbeaten 53 from just 22 balls, reaching his fifty in 21 deliveries, the fastest by an England batter at a T20 World Cup. His knock included multiple sixes in the closing overs as England recorded their highest total of the tournament so far.
For Italy, Krishan Kalugamage claimed 2-41, while Grant Stewart and others chipped in with wickets, but misfields in the deep and on the cover boundary proved costly during the final overs.
Italy’s chase began under immediate pressure when Jofra Archer struck twice in the opening over, removing top-order batters and putting the debutants on the back foot. Captain Harry Manenti fell early, and the scoreboard suggested a one-sided contest.
That quickly changed through a fierce counter from Ben Manenti, who blasted 60 from 25 balls. He attacked both pace and spin, clearing the ropes repeatedly and driving Italy forward with aggressive intent. Alongside Justin Mosca, who made 43, Manenti added rapid runs that brought the target within reach and unsettled England’s bowling plans.
Even after Manenti’s dismissal triggered a cluster of wickets, Italy continued to push. Stewart struck 45 from 23 balls to keep the equation alive deep into the final overs. Italy required 30 runs from the last two overs and still had wickets in hand, with England under visible pressure.
The turning point came in the 19th over when Curran removed Stewart with a catch at short third, finishing with three wickets in the match. His spell halted Italy’s late charge after they had taken heavy runs from other bowlers in the preceding overs.
With 25 needed off the final over and two wickets remaining, Jamie Overton closed out the innings and secured the result, ending with figures of 3-18. Archer took two wickets overall, while Adil Rashid and Jacks picked up one each.
Italy were bowled out for 178 in exactly 20 overs while chasing 203. Their batting card featured Ben Manenti 60, Stewart 45, Mosca 43, with several lower-order players dismissed without scoring.
Group standings
The win confirms England’s passage to the Super 8 phase after a tense group run that included a final-ball victory over Nepal, a defeat to West Indies, and narrow wins against Scotland and Italy. West Indies also advanced from Group C, while Italy, already eliminated, are scheduled to play their final group match against West Indies in Mumbai.
England will now move to the Super 8 stage in Sri Lanka, with their opponents to be confirmed, after surviving one of the closest scares of their group campaign.
