Will Jacks’ late score once again proved crucial as England secured a nervy 24-run victory over debutant Italy in Kolkata, clinching a spot in the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup.
Jacks (53 no off 22 balls) was reduced to 107-5 in 13 overs at Eden Gardens, but England knocked six final overs to reach his first T20I fifty, taking his team to 202-7.
The Surrey all-rounder scored 18 runs from the final over in England’s opening game win over Nepal by four runs, but the team was once again indebted to him after three of their top five batsmen, Burgeos Buttler (three) and Harry Brook (14), collapsed in the 20s and 30s.
The Jacks (1-34) then ended a brutal Italian fourth-wicket stand with Ben Manenti (60 off 25) and Justin Mosca (46 off 34) hitting 92 off 48 balls. Manenti got the ball rolling at long-on, but Italy rallied from 22-3 after Jofra Archer (2-35) hit a brace in the first over and Buttler took a fine jumping catch. 4th.
After opening with a loss to Scotland, Italy, who were 10 wickets ahead of Nepal, were dismissed for 178, avoiding a shock with Adil Rashid (1-43), Sam Curran (3-22) and Jamie Overton (3-18) picking up wickets.
Needing 89 from eight overs, Italy’s victory looked within reach, but Rashid’s 30 from 12 balls left him unasked in a 21-run over, but Curran scored just five runs from his penultimate over, looking dead yet again after his score against Nepal, but in the end Overton wrapped up the match with two strikes.
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England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler takes an acrobatic catch to deny Italy’s Harry Manenti in a run chase
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Watch how Jofra Archer eliminated Italy’s JJ Smuts and Anthony Mosca for a duck in Kolkata
England’s third win from four games has given them a nervous but safe place in the second round, where they will face Pakistan, New Zealand, and either Zimbabwe or Sri Lanka, with Colombo and Kandy in between.
Italy and Scotland are currently unable to advance, while unbeaten West Indies have already secured the first spot from Group C and will face India, South Africa and one other team in the Super Eights.
More to come.
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Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain rang the bell at Eden Gardens ahead of the match between England and Italy
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