T20 World Cup: England avert another upset, eke out 24-run win over spirited Italy to enter Super 8

England secured their place in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup 2026 following a hard-fought 24-run victory over spirited Italy. The high-stakes Group C encounter, held at the iconic Eden Gardens proved to be the decisive moment for the English side as they successfully defended their massive 203-run target to stifle the Italian run chase. With this win, England moved to six points, solidifying their position as the second team to qualify from their group, trailing only the West Indies.

England qualify for T20 World Cup Super 8 with win over Italy

The tournament field is beginning to take shape as England joins an elite list of early qualifiers. They now sit alongside defending champions India, last year’s finalists South Africa, and the clinical West Indian squad. But the spirited Italy gave it tough to the Englishmen with their batting bravado, which almost gave them the scare. 

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Will Jacks' blitzkrieg powers England to big total

England displayed their attacking show to post a formidable 202/7 against Italy. With a spot in the Super Eights on the line following a lackluster start to their campaign, the two-time champions adopted an all guns blazing approach. While the innings was characterized by a recurring trend of losing wickets at regular intervals, a late-game surge ensured they reached their first 200-plus total of the tournament.

The primary architect of this total was Will Jacks, whose explosive, unbeaten 53 off just 22 balls provided the necessary fireworks. His knock, featuring four sixes and three boundaries, rescued England from a precarious position at 105/5. Alongside Sam Curran, who contributed a vital 25 off 19 deliveries, Jacks anchored a 54-run partnership for the sixth wicket. This stand, coming off just 25 balls, effectively shifted the momentum back in England's favor during the death overs.

Earlier in the innings, Phil Salt had set a blistering tone by racing to 28 off 15 balls, helping England skip past the 50-run mark within the first five overs. However, the top order remained unstable; veteran Jos Buttler’s poor run of form persisted as he fell for just 3 to Grant Stewart in the third over. The powerplay concluded at 54/2 after Salt was dismissed following a sensational diving catch by Anthony Mosca, a moment that triggered a brief middle-order wobble.

Despite the loss of wickets, England’s middle order attempted to maintain the high run rate. Jacob Bethell and skipper Harry Brook both showed flashes of brilliance, with Brook smashing a six and a four before falling to a reckless wide delivery. Tom Banton, coming off a strong performance against Scotland, contributed a sensible 30 off 21 balls but ultimately gifted his wicket to deep midwicket just as he seemed set. Despite these individual setbacks, the collective aggression of the lineup—capped by Jacks' brilliance, set a daunting target for the Italian side.

Curran, Overton stifle Italy's chase despite Menenti storm

Italy proved to be a far more formidable opponent than England had anticipated, playing with a flair that seemed "out of the syllabus" for the veteran side. The chase began with Justin Mosca setting a solid platform with a gritty 43-run knock, though the team initially struggled under the lights. England’s bowling attack looked set to run away with the game after a clinical Powerplay performance that saw the Azzurri reduced to a precarious 23/3.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Ben Manenti arrived at the crease. The 28-year-old played a transformative innings, smashing a fiery 60 runs off just 25 balls to breathe life back into the Italian camp. His aggressive approach single-handedly hauled Italy back into the contest, forcing England onto the defensive. While Manenti ultimately failed to see the chase through to the end, his performance shook the confidence of the English bowlers and kept the result in doubt until his departure.

Even after Manenti’s exit, Italy refused to concede, playing with the "nothing to lose" mentality of a true underdog. Batting at number six, Grant Stewart took up the mantle, providing a late-inning surge with a valiant 45 runs off 23 balls. His defiance kept the Eden Gardens crowd on the edge of their seats until Sam Curran finally broke the resistance in the penultimate over. Stewart’s dismissal effectively ended the fight.