The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 England overcame a spirited challenge from Italy in their 29th Group C match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to produce another thrilling contest. England’s 24th victory was shaped by explosive batting Will Jacks and a decisive all-round display Sam Curran.
England post 202/7 after an aggressive shot screen
Electing to bat first, England posted 202 for 7 in their 20th over, keeping their run rate above that. While not having a traditional anchor, the innings saw contributions from multiple hitters.
Philip Salt set the tone for a quick 28 off 15 balls before falling to Ali Hasan. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell came into play but wickets at regular intervals prevented England from fully dominating the power play.
The middle innings saw Tom Banton and Harry Brook attempt to consolidate but Italy’s bowlers pulled back to keep the contest alive. However, the turning point came when Will Jacks came on a late charge. Unbeaten on 53 off just 22 deliveries, Jacks smashed boundaries at will with a staggering strike rate of over 240.
21 ball fifty for Will Jacks 🔥#ENGVITA #WillJacks #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/9bjL8VcJjO
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 16, 2026
Sam Curran was also instrumental with the bat, making a quickfire 25 off 19 balls before being dismissed.
Italy responds with fighting spirit
Chasing 203, Italy showed remarkable resilience. After early setbacks, Justin Mosca had a well-made 43 balls. However, the real momentum changer came with Ben Manenti’s explosive 60 for 25 that put Italy firmly back in the game.
Grant Stewart hit 23 deliveries off 45 to fuel the chase and keep hopes alive for the innings. At one stage, Italy looked poised for an upset, especially after going past 130 in the 15th over.
When the pressure was on, Curran stepped up. The left-arm pacer delivered a decisive spell, claiming three crucial wickets for 22 runs.
Curran held off Italy’s charge, dismissing Grant Stewart at a critical juncture. He also accounted for Marcus Campopiano and Gian Meade, sparking a collapse that disrupted Italy’s chase.
Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer supported with timely advances but Curran’s control under pressure swung the match decisively in England’s favour. Italy won 178 points on the last ball of his innings.
With this victory, England advanced to the Super 8 stage of the competition.
England went to the Super Eight stage âš¡#ENGVSITA #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/kHOwkZQ2Ui
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 16, 2026
