Mumbai, 12 February (Sports Desk)
West Indies Thrash England by 30 Runs in T20 World Cup 2026 Group C Clash – Sherfane Rutherford Stars with Unbeaten 76
West Indies secured a commanding 30-run victory over England in Match 15 of Group C, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India.
This win marked West Indies’ second consecutive victory in the tournament, propelling them to the top of Group C. England, the 2022 champions, suffered their first defeat and now face pressure in the group stage.
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Match Summary
- Toss: England won the toss and elected to field first.
- West Indies Innings: 196/6 (20 overs)
- England Innings: 166 (19 overs)
- Result: West Indies won by 30 runs.
West Indies recovered from a modest start to post a formidable total, powered by explosive middle-order hitting. Their spinners then dominated the dew-affected chase, strangling England’s batting lineup.
West Indies Batting Highlights
West Indies were inserted but built momentum through calculated aggression.
- Sherfane Rutherford: 76* off 42 balls (2 fours, 7 sixes) — career-best T20I score; explosive late surge with big sixes over long-on and mid-wicket.
- Roston Chase: 34 off 29 balls — steady support.
- Jason Holder: 33 off 17 balls (4 sixes) — quick cameo.
- Key partnerships: 61-run stand between Rutherford and Holder for the sixth wicket; earlier contributions from Rovman Powell (14 off 13).
- England bowling: Adil Rashid 2/16 (excellent control), Jamie Overton 2/33, but pacers leaked runs in death overs.
West Indies reached 196/6, setting a challenging target on a pitch offering grip for spinners.
England Batting Highlights
Chasing 197, England started strongly but collapsed against spin.
- Sam Curran: 43* off 30 balls — valiant effort lower down.
- Phil Salt: 30 off 14 balls — aggressive Powerplay.
- Jacob Bethell: 33 off 23 balls.
- Jos Buttler: 21 off 14 balls.
- England slipped from 85/2 to 131/5; middle order crumbled against spin.
- West Indies bowling: Gudakesh Motie 3/33 (broke the back with wickets of Banton, Bethell, Brook), Roston Chase 2/29 — combined spin dominance in dewy conditions.
England bundled out for 166 in 19 overs.
Player of the Match
Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies) — for his match-defining unbeaten 76 off 42 balls, featuring powerful six-hitting that lifted West Indies from a shaky start to a winning total. His knock, including a stylish fifty and late acceleration, earned him the award unanimously.
Post-match, Rutherford said: “I have put in a lot of work coming into the World Cup… The biggest challenge was Rashid, so I tried to take singles off him and make it up in other overs.”
This was a clinical performance from West Indies, showcasing batting firepower and spin mastery. England’s chase faltered under pressure, highlighting spin vulnerability in sub-continental conditions. West Indies now look strong contenders in Group C.
