England succumb to West Indian spinners

The England cricket team lost to fellow two-time champions West Indies in its second Group C match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Electing to field first, England, third in the ICC T20 team rankings, started well but Sherfane Rutherford’s breezy half-century propelled the seventh-ranked West Indies to a respectable 196/6 in 20 overs.

England’s chase never managed to gather momentum as the West Indian spinners, led by Gudakesh Motie, systematically dismantled their top order and bundled them out for 166 in 19 overs.

Jofra Archer gave two-time T20 World Cup winners England an early breakthrough in the first over as opposition captain Shai Hope played one straight to Tom Banton at cover while trying to clear the ropes.

Sam Curran struck with his very first ball of the match as he got rid of the dangerous Brandon King to leave the Windies staring down the barrel at 8/2.

Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase launched a counter-attack and took West Indies past 50. Jamie Overton eventually ended the breezy start in the final over of powerplay by dismissing Hetmyer when he was looking dangerous on 23 off 12 balls.

Chase also departed for 34 in the 10th over after being trapped LBW by Adil Rashid.

Thereafter, Sherfane Rutherford became the anchor of the West Indies.

After reaching his fifth T20I fifty in 29 balls with a maximum, the southpaw proceeded to score an unbeaten 76 off 42 - Sherfane’s highest T20I score, eclipsing the 68 not out against New Zealand in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

He had good support from Jason Holder, who produced a late cameo of 33 in just 17 balls. Both Adil Rashid and Jamie Overton picked up two wickets each.

Phil Salt got England off to a flying start after the innings break. After opening his account with a boundary of the very first ball, he slammed Holder for 24 in the second over.

His onslaught was short-lived though, as he departed to clear the ropes off Romario Shepherd’s bowling after scoring 30 off 14.

Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell kept the scoreboard ticking for England before Chase broke the partnership by sending Buttler back in the seventh over.

Gudakesh Motie followed right up and removed Tom Banton and Bethell in successive overs to leave the English in a spot of bother at 90/4.

Harry Brook and Sam Curran looked to steady the ship with a 41-run stand before Motie struck again in his final over to get rid off the English skipper.

Will Jacks managed to contribute just two before being castled by Chase with England loitering at 135/6 after 15 overs.

Sam Curran (43 not out off 30 balls) tried to offer some resistance but kept losing partners at the other end.

West Indian spinners accounted for six English wickets on the night, with Motie picking three, Chase two and Akeal Hosein registering his 150th international wicket across formats.

Two of the remaining four wickets were run outs.

England, who narrowly edged out Nepal in their tournament opener earlier this week, will travel to Kolkata to face Scotland at the Eden Gardens in their next T20 World Cup match on Saturday.

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