England Survive Italy Scare to Reach T20 Super 8s – Warning Signs Ahead?
England are through to the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup, but make no mistake, this was anything but comfortable.
At Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the England cricket team were pushed to the edge by tournament debutants, the Italy national cricket team , before sealing a 24-run victory that keeps their campaign alive. On paper, it looks routine. On the field, it was tense, chaotic and at times alarming.
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England posted 202 for 7, their highest total of the tournament so far. That should have been enough to shut the door. But Italy had other ideas. Despite being one of the lowest-ranked sides in the competition, they came out fearless. After early wickets, Ben Manenti launched a brutal counterattack, smashing boundaries and shifting the pressure squarely back onto England. Suddenly, what was meant to be a straightforward defence turned into a potential World Cup upset.
When Manenti fell, England sensed relief. But it didn’t last. Grant Stewart kept swinging and with just two overs left, Italy needed 30 runs. For a moment, you could feel the nerves in the England camp. Memories of their narrow escape against Nepal and their earlier defeat to West Indies were still fresh. This team has not looked dominant in this tournament.
It was Sam Curran who finally steadied things, removing Stewart at a crucial moment. Then Jamie Overton closed it out in the final over. Italy were bowled out for 178. England survived. But survival is the key word.
The bright spot for England was Will Jacks. Batting down the order, he produced a rapid half-century, his first in T20 internationals and the quickest by an English player at a T20 World Cup. Without that late surge, this result could have been very different.
For Italy, even in defeat, this was a statement. They have shown growth, confidence and genuine belief on cricket’s biggest stage. Their campaign ends soon, but their reputation has changed.
For England, the bigger picture matters. They move on to the Super 8 stage in Sri Lanka, but performances like this raise serious questions. Are they pacing themselves, or are they vulnerable? Against stronger opposition, these lapses could be fatal.
The standings say England advance. The performances say improvement is urgent.
The T20 World Cup is heating up and the margin for error is shrinking fast. Stay with us as we track every twist, every shock and every defining moment from this global tournament.
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