8
England defeated Italy by 24 runs in a tense Group C encounter at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
🔹 England’s Innings
- England chose to bat first and posted 202/7.
- The innings wobbled at 105/5, but Will Jacks produced a stunning, unbeaten 53 off 22 balls, accelerating the total in the final overs.
- Useful contributions came from Tom Banton (30) and Sam Curran (25).
- Jack’s explosive finish earned him Player of the Match.
🔹 Italy’s Chase
- Italy was rocked early, collapsing to 22/3 after Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton struck.
- A remarkable counterattack followed:
- Ben Manenti smashed 60 off 25 balls.
- Justin Mosca added 43, and Grant Stewart blasted 45 off 23 to keep the chase alive.
- England regained control through Sam Curran (3/22) and Jamie Overton (3/18), eventually bowling Italy out for 178.
🔹 Why This Match Mattered
- England’s win secured their place in the Super 8s, though the performance raised concerns about consistency.
- Italy, despite being newcomers, pushed a top-tier side to the brink—one of the standout stories of the group stage.
