England beat Italy to enter Super 8

The England cricket team qualified for the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup 2026 after pulling off a 24-run win over Italy at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.

England’s victory over Italy sees them join the West Indies in the Super 8 from Group C.

Will Jacks led the way for England with willow as he top-scored for them with 53 not out off 22 balls to help guide England to 202/7 at the end of the first innings.

Jamie Overton (3/18) and Sam Curran (3/22) were the pick of the English bowlers and bundled out Italy for 178 in 20 overs.

Chasing a daunting 203, Italy never found momentum after Jofra Archer ripped through the top order with a double strike in the opening over.

The pressure mounted when Jamie Overton removed Italian skipper Harry Manenti at the end of the fourth.

A brief fightback followed as opener Justin Mosca and Ben Manenti combined in a spirited 92-run stand for the fourth wicket to revive the chase.

Ben Manenti, the aggressor in the partnership, was dismissed for a 25-ball 60 shortly after bringing up his half-century in the 12th over before Mosca also fell a few overs later.

Grant Stewart provided late fireworks and got Italy close to the target by dealing in sixes in the final few overs before falling to Sam Curran. Italy were bowled out for 178 in 20 overs.

Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bat, England got off to a brisk start as Phil Salt opened his account with a boundary and immediately set the tone.

His opening partner Jos Buttler departed early in the third over, bringing Jacob Bethell to the crease.

Bethell and Salt then added a fluent 33 off 21 balls before the latter’s departure as the duo helped lift England to 56/2 at the end of the powerplay.

England suffered another setback a couple of overs later when Jacob Bethell was dismissed, leaving Tom Banton and skipper Harry Brook to rebuild.

Banton and Brook added 25 for the fourth wicket, but both fell in quick succession, reducing England to 105/5 in 12.4 overs.

The momentum was revived by Sam Curran and Will Jacks, as the duo blasted a 54-run stand from just 25 deliveries to inject much-needed impetus into the England innings.

After Curran’s dismissal in the 17th over, Jacks continued the onslaught alongside Jamie Overton, who chipped in with a four and a six.

Jacks then capped a blistering finish by launching two sixes in the final over to bring up a stunning half-century from just 21 balls, ensuring England closed their innings on a high by breaching the 200-run mark.

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