ENG vs ITA Match 29 Commentary - Kolkata (16 February 2026)

Banged in well short and outside off, moves away from the right-hander as well. Jaspreet Singh reaches out but is beaten by the extra bounce.

OUT! CAUGHT! England are now just one wicket away from the win. Jamie Overton serves it back of a length and over the stumps. Jaspreet Singh backs away to take it on but is undone by the extra bounce. Jaspreet ends up slashing it high up in the air towards the short cover region. Will Jacks comes in from the edge of the circle and goes down on one knee to take the catch.

Very full, angled into middle and leg, Ali Hasan backs away and digs it out into the off side. Another dot ball.

Short of a length and around off, Hasan backs away again and looks to go over point but is well beaten.

Another play and a miss. Back of a length, angled into the batter, Ali Hasan makes a lot of room leg side but fails to lay a bat on it yet again.

OUT! TIMBER! Jamie Overton finishes proceedings in style with the ball and England qualify for the Super 8 stage. Overton knows what's coming from Ali Hasan and goes full and straight. Hasan backs away, trying to drive but is beaten for a third ball in a row and this time, he hears the death rattle behind him as well. Overton ends with a double-wicket maiden and ENGLAND WIN BY 24 RUNS!

WIDE! Pressure on the fielding side. Full and wide outside off, slower too but this one angles beyond the tramline.

A low full toss, angling across off, Jaspreet Singh slices it away to sweeper cover for a single.

Excellent review! Sam Curran comes around the wicket and angles in a slower ball, bowling it on a good length. Grant Stewart walks across to slog it away but gets beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the pads. There is an appeal for LBW and up goes the finger. Stewart, who is running to the bowler's end for the single, reviews it right away. UltraEdge shows a big spike when the ball is next to the inside edge. NOT OUT! However, it will be a dot ball as well.

A slower bumper, banged in well short and wide outside off, Grant Stewart reaches for it and uppercuts it on the bounce to Jofra Archer at deep backward point. Archer doesn't even make an attempt at the catch and is happy to concede the single.

WIDE! Pace-on delivery, it is the attempted wide yorker but Curran pushes it beyond the tramline. The nerves are settling in for both sides now.

Curran is sticking to his plans and is doing a fine job, 25 needed now off 8 balls. Curran goes for the wide yorker again and nails it as well. Jaspreet Singh reaches out and jams it on the bouce to Adil Rashid at short third for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sam Curran is taking England to the Super 8, it seems and what a big wicket this is in the context of the game. Curran stays around the wicket and goes full and wide yet again, with pace-on. Grant Stewart hangs back and throws the hands at it but ends up slicing it off the outside edge. The ball goes quickly to the left of short third, where Liam Dawson moves across and takes a smart catch. Stewart's fighting knock of 45 off just 23 balls comes to an end.

A dot to end a brilliant over from Sam Curran and Italy need 25 off the final over. Another yorker-length delivery, angling in from outside off. Crishan Kalugamage jams it out to extra cover and the batters don't go for the run.

Dragged length, angled into the batter. Singh advances and forces it down to long on for a single.

At the stumps, hit down the ground and Stewart takes the single.

SIX! Oh, Jaspreet Singh gets one out of screws as well. Flighted ball on the stumps, a bit too full. Singh sits down and swings across the line, heaving it over cow corner for a six.

Floated up, wide outside off, Jaspreet Singh fetches the ball and slogs it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! That's whacked away for another maximum. Rashid drags the length too short and darts it into the batter. Grant Stewart goes very deep in the crease and moves past the leg stump before clobbering it over long on for a biggie.

SIX! Wow, what hitting from Grant Stewart, 21 runs off the over and Italy are back in business. Tossed up, full and outside off, Grant Stewart manages to reach the ball and lifts it over long off for a biggie. 30 needed off 12 balls.

Just back of a length, darts back into the batter. Jaspreet Singh is cut in half as he looks to play at it and the ball goes past the inside edge.

No run out as confirmed by the smart replay. Full and straight, jammed out to mid on for a quick single. The fielder fires in a direct hit at the bowler's end but Jaspreet Singh dives in to make his ground.

SIX! Up and over, Stewart gets enough power on it. Very full, tailing back into middle and leg, Grant Stewart manages to stay back and lift it over wide long off for a six.

Ouch, that must have hurt! Full and angled into the batter. Grant Stewart looks to back away but gets cramped for room and gets an inside edge onto the left leg. A stinging blow but Stewart seems fine.

Dug in short over middle, Stewart backs away to play the upper cut but is beaten for pace and bounce.

SIX! No matter how they come and Grant Stewart is keeping Italy in with an outside chance. Another bumper, directed at the batter. Stewart swings and gets a top edge that flies over fine leg for a six. 51 needed now off 18 balls.

Curran returns to the attack. Shorter in length, angled down leg from around the stumps. Campopiano pulls it off the hips and down to fine leg for a single.

Very full and wide outside off, Stewart stays put and just reaches out, toe-ending it past the left side of the bowler and picks up a single.

That's near perfect from Curran. Full and wide outside off, lands it just inside the tramline outside off. Campopiano is early to back away a bit and fails to reach it.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sam Curran switches to over the wicket and serves a high full toss over middle and leg. Marcus Campopiano hangs back and looks to belt it but gets it high on the bat. The ball sails down to the left of long on, where Tom Banton slides across and takes a fine catch. The batter is hanging around in hope of getting a No Ball call. It is actually confirmed quite quickly by the umpires and the delivery is deemed as a fair one.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Not much of an appeal from Sam Curran but it doesn't matter as he is now on a hat-trick. Back to around the wicket, bowled on a good length and outside off, slower too. Gian-Piero Meade backs away to go over the off side but gets a faint edge through to the keeper. Jos Buttler pouches it and knows it straightaway and the umpire's finger also goes up.

No hat-trick! Sam Curran had a hat-trick recently against Sri Lanka in the lead-up to this World Cup but he won't get one here. Back of a length and outside off, cut away uppishly but well past backward point for a single.

SIX! Superb start after the break! Tossed up, full and around off. Grant Stewart extends his arms to reach out for it and launches it high and handsomely over the long on fence for half a dozen more.

Floated, short and outside off, Grant Stewart punches it to sweeper cover for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! Italy are just losing their way now. Adil Rashid bravely flights this up, full and on middle. Justin Mosca goes down on one knee to slog it down the ground but fails to get fully underneath it. He does not get the elevation and the ball flies straight down the throat of Tom Banton at long on, who makes no mistake. Both the set batters are gone now. 68 needed in 33 balls.

Slows it up, full and on middle and off, Marcus Campopiano goes down for the sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads. A slight appeal for LBW, but turned down.

Slightly shorter and on off, Marcus Campopiano stabs it out to short cover.

Looped up, shortish and outside off, Marcus Campopiano has to wait for it and slaps it to sweeper cover for one more.

Jamie Overton bangs in a sharp bouncer, on middle and off. Grant Stewart gets hurried and tries to pull but takes his eyes off the ball and misses.

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Jamie Overton sees the batter back away and serves this full, angling into leg, following the batter. Grant Stewart throws his hands at it and gets an otuside edge that flies past the keeper for a boundary.

Lands this on a good length and around off, takes pace off, Grant Stewart tries to punch it away but fails to connect.

The dots are creeping in now! This is another good bouncer, on leg, Grant Stewart tries to make room and upper cut it but fails to lay a bat on that one.

WIDE! Slower delivery, full and outside off, very close to the tramline. Grant Stewart backs away and is nowhere near to play at that. The umpire calls it a wide.

Hits the length hard and on middle and off. Grant Stewart stays leg side to cut it away but misses again. Pressure is building now.

Pitched up and on middle, Grant Stewart heaves it off the inner half of the bat to deep mid-wicket for one. Just 6 runs off the over.

Short and on middle, Justin Mosca pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Floated, full and on off, Grant Stewart drills it to long off for a run.

Flatter, full and on off, Justin Mosca drives it to long off for another run.

FOUR! Short and punished! Liam Dawson drags his length back and outside off. Grant Stewart cashes in on the width and slaps it through covers for a boundary.

Quicker and shorter again, on off, Grant Stewart stabs it out to short cover. A rare dot ball.

Another short delivery, on middle, Grant Stewart swats it to long on for one.

Flighted, short and on middle, Justin Mosca backs away and steers it to backward point for a single.

FOUR! Lucky! Tossed up, full and around off, Benjamin Manenti goes down for the big slog sweep but gets an underedge. It rolls through Buttler's legs and races to the fence behind for a boundary.

SIX! FIFTY FOR MANENTI! This has been an incredible knock, and he has got to it in just 22 balls, almost matching Will Jacks, who got it in 21 balls for England earlier on. Floated, full and around middle. Benjamin Manenti gets down on one knee and dispatches it over the wide long on fence for a biggie, to get to his second half-century in this World Cup.

SIX! Oh..wow! Will Jacks bowls this quicker, full but on the pads. Benjamin Manenti just picks it off his pads and whips it away nonchalantly over the deep backward square leg fence for half a dozen more.

FOUR! There is no stopping that! Short and outside off, Benjamin Manenti uses the width on offer and crunches his cut through point for a blazing boundary.

OUT! CAUGHT! Will Jacks has the last laugh and the Benjamin Manenti show is over here at the Gardens. This is slower through the air, full and outside off. Benjamin Manenti goes down and tries to drag it down the ground but this time gets no power on the shot as he hits it from the toe-end of the bat. It flies towards long on, where Tom Banton runs forward to take a fine catch just above the ground. Manenti walks back for a fantastic 60 off 25 and gets a rousing applause from the dugout and the crowd.

Floated, full and around leg, Justin Mosca goes down for the sweep but misses as the ball goes off his pads to the left of short fine. A leg bye taken.

Flatter, full and angling into leg, Benjamin Manenti cannot get under it and drills it to long on for a single.

A full toss, on middle, Justin Mosca swipes it away wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Dragged back and on middle, Justin Mosca rocks back and heaves it away towards deep mid-wicket. Phil Salt is standing well ahead of the ropes to cut off the double, and the ball sails over his head for a one-bounce four.

Short again and outside of, Justin Mosca cuts it away to deep point for one.

Pushed through quicker, shortish and outside off, Benjamin Manenti tries to reach out but only manages to chop it onto the pitch.

Tossed up around leg, Justin Mosca goes on one knee to play the slog sweep but wears it on the pads instead.

Fuller length around off, Mosca goes for the slog-sweep but mistimes it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Oh, that's brave but smart bowling from Rashid. Adil Rashid loops this leg break well above the eyeline of the batter and lands it full on off. Benjamin Manenti sits down to play the slog sweep but misses and Jos Buttler fumbles the ball behind the stumps. UltraEdge later show that there was an underedge from Manenti and that will go down as a dropped catch from Buttler.

Flatter one, pushed outside off, eased away through covers for a single.

Aerial but safe. Flighted delivery on the stumps, Justin Mosca goes on one knee and gets a top edge on the slog sweep. Jacob Bethell from deep mid-wicket runs to his left but the ball lands well short and the batters pick up two runs.

Flat and full, on off, jammed down to long off for a single. 119 needed now off 60 balls.

Curran begins with a full-pitched delivery on off and middle. Manenti stays deep in the crease and drives it down to long on for a single.

Oh, an overthrow and the batters do get a single. Back of a length and around off, Mosca taps it wide of backward point. Benjamin Manenti at the other end wants a single and sets off but has to turn back. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but fires it wide and the batters manage to pinch a run.

SIX! Solid hit from Benjamin Manenti and that brings up the 50-run stand between these two. Slower ball, back of a length and over middle. Manenti keeps his shape and just lifts it back over the bowler's head and the ball carries all the way over the ropes at long off.

SIX! Oh, what a shot from Benjamin Manenti! Another slower one, a bit full and on the pads. Manenti uses his wrists and whips it off the pads and the ball travels flat and over the leaping fielder at deep backward square leg for another biggie.

Short of a length and over the stumps, Manenti looks to pull but misses.

Slower one, a bit of a floater and pushed wide of the off stump. Benjamin Manenti goes after it and gets an inside edge back down to the keeper.

SIX! Stand and deliver! Well short over off and middle, Benjamin Manenti hangs back, waiting for the exact length and batters it over cow corner for a biggie.

Quicker and slightly short again, outside off, cut away behind point for a single.

Shortish length, turning into the batter, Mosca rocks back and swings it to deep square leg for one more.

Oh, that's great fielding in the deep as Benjamin Manenti had absolutely laced it. Dragged length wide outside off, sits up a bit. Manenti powers it flat and wide of sweeper cover where Jacob Bethell lunges to his right and makes a fine stop. Only a single.

Fullish length, sliding it across off, Mosca hangs back and tries to run it fine but misses.

Similar delivery to the last one, darted across off. Mosca waits back and dabs it down to short third for another dot ball. 138 more needed off 72 balls.

SIX! Oh, Rashid starts with a gift and Harry Manenti dispatches it into the stands. The slider on middle, but it is just too short. Manenti hangs back and slogs it powerfully beyond the mid-wicket fence. The 50 is also up for Italy.

Dragged short again but outside off, Harry Manenti slaps it down to long off for a single.

Flatter delivery outside off, Mosca rocks back and pulls it down to long on for a single.

Nagging length around middle, Manenti looks to hoick it leg side but fails to get it away.

Floated up on the stumps, Manenti plays a sweep wide of short fine leg and picks up a single.

Tossed up, full on off and middle, Mosca lunges to defend.

FOUR! Turn for Jacks but the line is all wrong. Shorter, on middle and leg, turns down the leg side. Benjamin Manenti shovels it down past short fine leg and picks up a boundary.

FOUR MORE! Floated up outside off, Manenti throws his hands at it and slices it over Jofra Archer at short third and the ball rolls away into the fence behind.

More turn for Jacks. On a length, on middle, turns into the pads, Manenti fails to get it away.

Dragged length around off, Ben comes forward and pushes it into the off side and the batters scamper through for the single.

Jacks comes around the wicket to the left-hander, lands it full and on middle. Justin Mosca blocks it off.

FOUR! Fractionally short and Justin Mosca is all over it. Short and around off, Mosca hops back and cuts it firmly between point and covers and the ball races away to the fence. Italy finish the Powerplay strongly, getting 13 runs off this over, ending with 47/3 in 6 overs.

FOUR! Nice shot! Short of a length and well outside off. Justin Mosca gets the chance to free his hands and crunches it through point for a boudnary.

Good length and on off, Justin Mosca pats it down to the off side.

Beauty! Hits the length hard and in that channel outside off, shaping away. Justin Mosca tries to play it from the crease but gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! Put away! Jofra Archer bowls this into the surface, on middle, but this is not short enough to trouble the batter. Justin Mosca climbs onto it quickly and pulls it to the deep mid-wicket fence for another boundary.

Pitched up and on off, Justin Mosca pushes it to short cover.

FOUR! Fantastic shot! Jofra Archer sticks to the shorter length, but bowls this just around off. Justin Mosca backs away to free his arms and cuts it over point for four more runs.

FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries for Italy! Short of a length and on middle. Harry Manenti picks up the length early. He rolls his wrists and pulls it away to the deep square leg fence for four more runs.

Bangs this into the pitch, outside off, gets some extra bounce. Harry Manenti chases after it but misses.

Good fielding! Goes fuller and around off, Harry Manenti opens the face of his bat and drives it square wide of backward point. Jacob Bethell dives to his right to save a certain boundary.

Full again and on middle, angling in, Harry Manenti clips it to short mid-wicket.

Swing and a miss! Pitched up and on off, holds its line, Harry Manenti tries to smear it through covers but misses.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! That is a stunning catch from Jos Buttler behind the stumps. Jamie Overton sees the batter move across to the off side, lands this on a shortish length and outside off. Harry Manenti shuffles across for the scoop but gets cramped up for the room and only manages to get it off the gloves. Buttler sees this and already moves to his left early. He times his jump to perfection and plucks it out of thin air with his outstretched right glove above his head, going across like a goalkeeper making a save. Italy are 22/3, chasing 203 runs.

Fuller and on leg, Harry Manenti tucks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Oh...jaffa! Jofra Archer pulls his length back a bit, on middle and gets it to shape away sharply. Justin Mosca gets squared up as the ball zips past the outside edge and a whisker away from the off pole.

Short of a length and well outside off, Justin Mosca slashes hard at it but fails to connect. He misses out there.

Comes around the wicket, serves this full and on off, Justin Mosca drives it firmly but straight to short cover.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Full again and around off, Justin Mosca gets a good stride out and just gently pushes at it. He times it well and finds the gap at covers with the outfield doing the rest for him.

FOUR! Two in two! Jofra Archer just errs in line a bit and bowls this full, angling down the leg side. Justin Mosca flicks it away nicely to the deep fine leg fence for another boundary.

Jamie Overton begins with a short-of-a-length delivery, on off, Justin Mosca rolls his wrists and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Bangs this hard into the surface on off, gets some extra bounce, Harry Manenti drops his hands and lets it go to the keeper.

SIX! Excellent effort in the deep but goes in vain! Back of a length and on off, Harry Manenti looks to pull it away but does not go through the shot fully. It takes the top edge and flies towards deep square leg. Phil Salt runs to his right, leaps and tries to grab and push it back in but fails to do so and the ball goes over the fence for a biggie.

Hard-length delivery and just outside off, Harry Manenti leaves it alone.

A quick bouncer, on middle, Harry Manenti looks to pull but gets a top edge onto his helmet as the ball lobs up towards the vacant square leg region. They cross.

Beaten! Jamie Overton lands this on a good length and on the sixth stump line, shapes it away. Justin Mosca has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Italy are up and running in the chase! Jofra Archer starts with a full delivery, on leg. Justin Mosca looks to flick it but falls over a bit. It goes off the inside edge onto his pads and rolls towards square leg. A single taken.

OUT! TAKEN! Early strike from Jofra Archer. He bangs this into the pitch at 146 clicks, on off. Anthony Mosca decides to take him on straightaway and goes for the pull shot. However, the ball gets big on him and takes the top edge. It flies behind mid on, where Harry Brook turns back, sprints, keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a good catch over his right shoulder. A golden duck for Anthony Mosca after his fine knock against Nepal.

Another bouncer, on middle, takes off, JJ Smuts sways away from it.

Hard length and on middle, nips back in a bit, JJ Smuts looks to clip it away but gets a leading edge along the ground to point.

On a length and on middle and off, JJ Smuts blocks it out.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Double strike from Jofra Archer and he is loving life in Kolkata. This is a back-of-a-length delivery, in that channel outside off, shaping away with extra bounce. JJ Smuts stays back and pushes at it with hard hands but only manages to get a thick outside edge towards first slip, where Jamie Overton moves to his left to reverse cup it sharply above his head. Italy are 1/2, needing 202 runs in 114 balls.