Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
Wednesday Feb 25, 2026
Tuesday, 17 February 2026 02:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
England are through to the next stage of the T20 World Cup, but they were given another major scare in a 24-run victory over brave Italy in Kolkata.
Needing only a win to guarantee a Super 8s spot, England were on 128 for five midway through the 16th over, but Will Jacks’ T20 best of 53 not out off 22 balls from number seven powered them to 202 for seven.
The momentum was with England when Jofra Archer took two wickets in his first over, but Ben Manenti reignited a seesaw contest with a jaw-dropping 60 off 25 deliveries, including six sixes and four fours.
When Jacks burgled his wicket and Sam Curran took two in two, the jig appeared to be up for Italy, only for Grant Stewart to thrash two sixes apiece off Archer and Adil Rashid, who conceded 21 in his last over to leave the tournament’s lowest-ranked side needing 30 from the last 12 balls.
Curran’s death bowling once again came to the fore as he conceded five and snared Stewart for 45, finishing with three for 22, as Italy were all out for 178, with Jamie Overton finishing things off.
England therefore finish second in Group C, behind the West Indies, but this was another unconvincing outing having also underwhelmed in their three previous matches and they head to Sri Lanka for the next phase with questions hanging over them.
Most worryingly, Jos Buttler is averaging a paltry 13.25 at the tournament following another failure and while Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell flickered, they fell feebly to catches a few metres in from the leg-side boundary after Harry Brook won the toss for the eighth T20 in a row.
