England have secured a place in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating Italy by 24 runs in their Group C encounter.
The result not only confirmed England’s progression but also ended the qualification hopes of both Italy and Scotland.
Group C becomes the first pool in the tournament to have both Super 8 qualifiers decided. Nepal had already been eliminated from contention earlier.
In the match played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, England posted a commanding total after being put in to bat. They finished on 203 for 7 in their 20 overs, setting Italy a challenging target of 204 runs.
Will Jacks led the charge with an unbeaten 53 off just 22 deliveries, providing a late flourish to the innings. Tom Banton contributed 30 runs, while Phil Salt added 28 to give England a solid platform.
Italy mounted an impressive response in the run chase and showed fighting spirit throughout their innings. However, despite several impactful performances, they were bowled out for 178 in 20 overs, falling 24 runs short of the target.
Ben Manenti played a blistering knock of 60 from 25 balls to keep Italy in the hunt. Grant Stewart supported with a quickfire 45 off 23 deliveries, while opener Justin Mosca added 42 runs at the top of the order. Nevertheless, regular wickets hampered Italy’s momentum during the chase.
England’s bowling attack delivered at crucial moments. Jamie Overton was particularly effective, claiming 3 wickets for just 18 runs in his four overs.
Sam Curran also picked up three wickets, conceding 22 runs in three overs. Jofra Archer claimed two wickets, while Will Jacks and Adil Rashid chipped in with one apiece.
Earlier, Italy’s bowlers had made some inroads despite England’s imposing total. Grant Stewart and Crishan Kalugamage each took two wickets, while JJ Smuts, Ali Hasan, and Ben Manenti grabbed one wicket each.
With the win, England move up to second place in Group C with six points from four matches. West Indies, who have six points from three games, had already confirmed their place in the Super 8 stage.
Scotland and Italy, both with two points from three matches, sit third and fourth respectively, while Nepal remain at the bottom without a point.
