T20 World Cup: Will Jacks and Jofra Archer Propel England to Super Eights With Win Over Italy
KOLKATA — A blistering all-round performance from Will Jacks and a fiery opening spell by Jofra Archer guided the England cricket team to the Super Eights of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Monday. England secured a 24-run victory over Italy in their Group C fixture at Eden Gardens, overcoming a spirited counterattack led by Ben Manenti.
Asked to bat first, England posted a formidable 202 for 7, their first total exceeding 200 in this edition of the tournament. Despite a mid-innings wobble, Jacks’ explosive 53 not out off 22 balls ensured the defending champions set a challenging target. In response, Italy recovered from a disastrous start to threaten an upset before being bowled out for 178 in 20 overs.
Match Snapshot
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| England | 202/7 (20 ov) | Will Jacks 53* (22), Tom Banton 30 (21), Jamie Overton 3/18 |
| Italy | 178 all out (20 ov) | Ben Manenti 60 (25), Grant Stewart 45 (23), Sam Curran 3/22 |
| Result | England won by 24 runs | |
England Innings: Jacks Rescues Middle Order
England’s innings began with aggressive intent as Phil Salt smashed 28 off 15 balls, propelling the team past 50 inside the first five overs. However, the momentum stalled when captain Jos Buttler fell for just three runs to Grant Stewart. The middle order struggled to capitalize, with Jacob Bethell (23 off 20) and Harry Brook (14 off 9) failing to convert their starts.
Tom Banton provided stability with a fluent 30 off 21 balls, but his dismissal left England precarious at 105/5. The turning point arrived via Will Jacks, who launched a late assault on the Italian bowling attack. Striking four sixes and three fours, Jacks dominated a 54-run partnership with Sam Curran (25 off 19) that spanned just 25 deliveries. This late surge lifted England to a competitive 202/7.
Italy Chase: Archer Strikes Early, Manenti Counters
Italy’s pursuit began disastrously against extreme pace. Jofra Archer, clocking speeds up to 146kph (90mph), tore through the top order. Archer reduced the debutants to 1/2 in the first over and shortly after to 22/3. Key wickets included Anthony Mosca (0) and JJ Smuts, who edged to first slip, while Harry Manenti also fell cheaply.
Despite the collapse, Italy mounted a courageous recovery. Ben Manenti produced one of the tournament’s most electrifying knocks, hammering 60 off just 25 balls. His half-century came off 22 deliveries—the joint-fifth fastest of the tournament. Targeting Jacks’ bowling, Manenti took 21 runs off a single over, hitting five sixes and four fours in total.
Supported by Justin Mosca (43 off 34), Manenti helped add 92 runs in 48 balls for the fourth wicket, briefly reviving Italy’s hopes of a historic upset.
The Turning Point
England regained control when Jacks broke the partnership, dismissing Ben Manenti (caught by Banton). Adil Rashid then removed Justin Mosca, exposing the lower order. Although Grant Stewart reignited the contest with a pugnacious 45 off 23 balls—striking two sixes off Archer and three against Rashid—the target proved too steep.
Sam Curran effectively ended the resistance, claiming two wickets in two balls to finish with figures of 3/22. Jamie Overton cleaned up the tail with 3/18 as Italy fell 24 runs short. The victory guarantees England’s progression to the Super Eights stage.
- Key Stat: Ben Manenti’s 22-ball fifty is the joint-second fastest by an Associate batter in T20 World Cup history.
- England’s Milestone: This was England’s first total of 200+ in the current tournament edition.
For more information on the tournament schedule and statistics, visit the official International Cricket Council (ICC) website or check the latest updates from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).