Italy’s daring chase of 203 in a thrilling match in Kolkata came painfully short, as England overcame a scare to advance to the Super Eights at the T20 World Cup on Monday.
England reached 202/7, their highest total of the tournament thus far, thanks to Will Jacks’ fastest T20 World Cup fifty and went on to win by 24 runs.
When Grant Stewart and Jaspreet Singh hammered 21 off Adil Rashid’s penultimate over, the 17th of the chase, including three sixes, Italy, the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, was poised to pull off an incredible upset.
30 runs were needed off 21 balls left, but it was too much, as Italy were all out for 178 off the final ball of the game.
Earlier, after Harry Brook won the toss and decided to bat, the majority of England’s batsmen had strong starts.
Only Will Jacks made the most of his start as Italy continued to strike at regular intervals, preventing England from building lasting partnerships. The aggressive right-hander brought up a stunning half-century off just 21 balls, eclipsing Eoin Morgan’s 25-ball fifty against the West Indies in Kandy back in 2012.
With England wobbling at 105/5 in the 13th over, Jacks seized control, shifting momentum decisively and dragging his side out of trouble with a counter-attacking display.
He put on 54 in 25 balls with Sam Curran (25) for the sixth wicket and 35 in 16 balls with Jamie Overton (15) for the seventh wicket. England passed 200 for the first time in the competition thanks to Jacks’ fourth six, which took him to his fifty. Jacks finished at 53 not out off 22 balls.
Together with the West Indies, who were previously qualified from Group C, South Africa, and India, the victory assured England’s spot in the Super Eights.
Jofra Archer bagged wickets in the first over, triggering Italy’s disastrous start to their run chase. Then, Jos Buttler pulled off one of the tournament’s most impressive catches. Wicketkeeper Buttler leaped to make a spectacular one-handed grab at full stretch after Italy captain Harry Manenti edged a Jamie Overton delivery.
Ben Manenti quickly reached 60 off 25 balls before being caught by Tom Banton at long-on off Jacks as Italy came back from a 22/3 deficit in a spectacular fashion.
In a 92-run partnership with Justin Mosca for the fourth wicket, Manenti hit six sixes and four fours. It appeared that Italy’s chances of achieving just the third successful 200-plus chase in T20 World Cup history could be dashed when Banton caught Mosca in the deep off Rashid to make it 135/5 in the 15th over.
Stewart, however, had different plans and kept Italy in the hunt by hitting 45 off 23 balls.
Earlier, after losing both openers, England ended the six-over power play at 56/2.
With 3, Buttler extended his run of poor scores; he has yet to surpass 30 in the competition. After getting off to a quick start, Phil Salt also fell for 28 from 15 balls with two sixes.
When Jacob Bethell followed suit for 23, England was struggling at 67/3 in the eighth over after both were caught trying big shots. In JJ Smuts’ third over, Brook hit a four and a six off the first two balls.
England were 92/4 after 11 overs when Jacks took over after he edged the next delivery to wicketkeeper Gian-Piero Meade, who was attempting to cut.
