England’s long-standing vulnerability against spin bowling proved costly once more as Harry Brook’s side suffered a 30-run defeat to West Indies in their second T20 World Cup fixture at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Chasing 197 for victory, the English batsmen appeared comfortable while facing pace, with Phil Salt plundering 24 runs from Jason Holder’s second over alone.
However, the introduction of slow bowling triggered a dramatic collapse. From a commanding position of 74 for one, England crumbled to 166 all out in just 18.5 overs.
West Indies’ spinners claimed six consecutive wickets through the middle overs, with Gudakesh Motie’s 3-33 proving particularly destructive.
England know one more loss and they are out of the T20 World Cup
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The Caribbean side’s imposing total of 196 for six was built largely on Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive 74 from 42 balls, though the left-hander was reprieved twice in the field.
Adil Rashid failed to hold a difficult chance at deep third man when Rutherford was on 23, before dropping a simpler opportunity off his own bowling with the batter on 56.
Roston Chase contributed 34, while Holder smashed 33 from just 17 deliveries, including three sixes in a single Curran over.
England’s bowling lacked discipline throughout. Jofra Archer conceded 48 runs from his allocation, continuing his struggles from the Nepal match, whilst only Rashid’s economical 2-16 provided any control.
Jos Buttler’s dismissal proved the turning point, miscuing Chase to long-on after making 21 and opening the floodgates for the West Indian slow bowlers.
West Indies tore through England with spin
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Motie proved unplayable, cleverly varying between wrist and finger-spin to bamboozle the English middle order. Jacob Bethell fell for 33 when one zipped through his defence onto the stumps, whilst Tom Banton and Brook both chipped catches having scored two and 17 respectively.
Chase added the scalps of Buttler and Will Jacks to finish with 2-29, whilst Sam Curran’s defiant unbeaten 43 ultimately counted for nothing when Rashid holed out at the end of the 18th over.
England’s tournament hopes remain alive despite this setback, though their margin for error has vanished entirely.
England have not been impressive at the T20 World Cup, having only narrowly beaten Nepal earlier this week
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Brook’s men must now secure victories against Scotland on Saturday and Italy on Monday, both in Kolkata, to stand any realistic chance of progressing to the Super 8s.
West Indies, meanwhile, sit atop the group with maximum points from their opening two fixtures. They continue their campaign against Nepal at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday before travelling to Kolkata to face Italy on Thursday, 19 February.
The defeat echoes England’s 2016 T20 World Cup final loss to the same opponents on Indian soil, with their generational struggles against spin showing no signs of resolution.
