The England vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights provided a pulsating contest that kept the Eden Gardens crowd on their toes. Opting to bat first, England overcame a mid-innings wobble to post a formidable 202/7, largely due to a blistering 53 from Will Jacks*. Italy, appearing in their debut World Cup, refused to back down. A sensational 60 from Ben Manenti gave them hope, but the clinical death bowling of Sam Curran (3/22) and Jamie Overton (3/18) proved too much. England’s 24-run win confirms their progression to the Super 8s, while Italy’s valiant effort officially knocks them and Scotland out of the competition.
Match Summary: Jacks and Curran Steer England Home
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 - Match 29 - England vs Italy
England’s 24-run victory was a story of two late-innings surges. After a brisk start by Phil Salt (28), England slumped to 105/5, facing the prospect of a sub-par total. However, a 54-run partnership between *Will Jacks (53)** and Sam Curran (25) injected much-needed momentum. Italy’s chase began disastrously at 22/3 against the pace of Jofra Archer, but a 92-run stand between Ben Manenti and Justin Mosca threatened a massive upset. It took the experience of the English seamers in the final five overs to halt the Italian charge and secure the win.
Playing XI
England
Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (C/WK), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
Italy
Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti (C), Ben Manenti, Marcus Campopiano, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (WK), Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan.
Key Stats & Records From Today's Match:
Super 8 Bound: England becomes the fourth team overall to qualify for the Super 8s in 2026.
Manenti’s Speed: Ben Manenti’s 22-ball fifty is the joint-second fastest by an Associate batter in T20 World Cup history.
Eden Record: England’s 202/7 is the second-highest first-inning score at Eden Gardens in T20 World Cups.
First-Ever Meeting: This was the first-ever T20I match between England and Italy.
Sam Curran’s milestone: Curran’s 3-for took him past 50 wickets in T20I cricket.
Innings Breakdown
First Innings: The Rebuilding Act
England’s first half of the England vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights was a rollercoaster. After losing Jos Buttler (3) early, Phil Salt (28) and Jacob Bethell (23) stabilized the ship. However, Italy’s bowlers, led by Grant Stewart (2/51), kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. At 105/5 in the 13th over, England were in trouble. *Will Jacks (53)** then played the knock of his life, hitting 3 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 240.91 to propel England to a total of 202/7.
Second Innings: The Italian Resistance Falls Short
Italy’s chase started in a nightmare fashion as Jofra Archer (2/35) struck twice in the first over. At 22/3, Italy looked out of the game. Then came a historic 92-run stand between Ben Manenti (60) and Justin Mosca (43). Manenti’s whirlwind innings included six towering sixes. However, once Jacks dismissed Manenti in the 12th over, the momentum shifted back to England. Despite late fireworks from Grant Stewart (45), Jamie Overton (3/18) and Sam Curran (3/22) executed their yorkers perfectly to bundle Italy out for 178.
Top Performers
Will Jacks (53 off 22 & 1/34) - Player of the Match
Jacks was the definitive game-changer. His unbeaten half-century was the difference between a competitive total and a winning one. He also provided the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Ben Manenti just as Italy threatened to run away with the game.
Ben Manenti (60 off 25 balls) - The Italian Sensation
Manenti proved he belongs at this level. His strike rate of 240 featured some of the largest sixes seen at Eden Gardens this tournament. He single-handedly kept the debutants in the game and gave the defending champions a massive scare.
Jamie Overton (3/18 off 4 overs) - The Economy King
On a pitch where almost 400 runs were scored, Overton’s figures were gold. He maintained an economy of 4.50 and took the wickets of Harry Manenti and the final two Italian tail-enders to seal the 24-run win.
Key Moments & Turning Points:
Jacks’ Death-Over Blitz: England were struggling at 114/5 in the 14th over. Will Jacks then launched an assault, hitting four sixes in the final six overs to take England past 200, a psychological barrier Italy couldn’t breach.
The Manenti Counter-Attack: Ben Manenti smashed a 22-ball fifty, taking 21 runs off a single over. For a moment, Italy looked favorites as they reached 114/3 in the 12th over.
Curran’s “Double-Strike” Finish: With Italy needing 30 off the last two overs, Sam Curran removed the dangerous Grant Stewart and Gian Meade in successive balls, effectively ending the Italian resistance.
The "Manenti Brothers" Factor
This match was a historic showcase for the Manenti brothers, Ben and Harry. While Ben grabbed the headlines with his 60, Harry’s captaincy and early bowling changes had England reeling at 105/5. Their combined contribution was the reason Italy fought so well against a Full Member nation, proving that Italy’s recent success isn’t just a fluke but a result of high-caliber tactical leadership from the Manenti family.
What This Result Means for Group C - England Qualify for Super-8
England has officially qualified for the Super 8s as the second team from Group C, joining the West Indies. For Italy and Scotland, this result confirms their elimination from the 2026 T20 World Cup. England now moves into the next stage with momentum, finally shaking off the inconsistency that plagued their early group matches.
T20 World Cup 2026 Group C Points Table
Group C Points Table
Match Highlights - England vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026
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