Will Jacks delivered a fiery all-round performance as England overcame a spirited Italian fightback to beat them by 24 runs and seal their Super 8 berth in their T20 World Cup Group C clash at Eden Gardens here on Monday.
Opting to bat, England rode on Jacks’ scintillating unbeaten 53 off just 22 balls (4x6, 3x4) to pile up 202 for 7, their first 200-plus total of this edition. In reply, debutants Italy put up a spirited display and threatened twice in the chase through Ben Manenti's breathtaking assault (60; 25b) and a late flourish from Grant Stewart (45; 23b).
But Jacks’ maiden T20 World Cup fifty and his timely breakthrough ensured the two-time champions stayed in control when it mattered and bowled out their European rivals for 178 in 20 overs. For England, Sam Curran (3/22) and Jamie Overton (3/18) bagged three each.
The tall chase had begun disastrously for the Azzurri. Jofra Archer unleashed a fiery opening over, striking at 146kph to reduce Italy to 1/2 in the opening over before it became 22/3 inside four overs. Anthony Mosca perished for a first-ball duck, attempting a wild hack at a short delivery that was simply too quick and too good to handle. South Africa-born all-rounder JJ Smuts followed, edging a back-of-a-length delivery to Jamie Overton at first slip.
Archer's pace and bounce on the sporting Eden wicket proved too much early on as England seized control. Harry Manenti then perished to Overton with Jos Buttler taking a sharp diving catch, leaving Italy in deep trouble. But there was some entertainment that followed. Ben turned the game on its head with a sensational counterattack, smashing a 22-ball fifty, the joint-fifth fastest of this T20 World Cup and the joint-second fastest by an associate batter in the tournament's history.
He gave England some scare, smashing five sixes and four fours that reminded fans of Chris Gayle at Eden Gardens. He took apart Jacks in one over, plundering 21 runs with a sequence of 4, 6, 6, 4. Justin Mosca (43 off 34 balls; 7x4) played the perfect foil, using Archer’s pace cleverly to pierce the off-side and keep the scoreboard ticking.
The duo added a stunning 92 runs off just 48 balls, suddenly shifting momentum and raising Italian hopes. However, Jacks provided the decisive breakthrough in the same over, removing Ben who attempted a front-foot slog against a slightly slower delivery, only for Tom Banton to cling on to a crucial catch.
With 89 required from the final eight overs, the equation grew tougher as Adil Rashid then removed Justin. But then Stewart came to the party with two sixes off Archer's final over as he returned with 2/35 and then the batter went on rampage against Rashid (1/43) with three maximums. But Curran brought an end to the assault picking two wickets in two balls.
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