T20 World Cup 2026: Sherfane Rutherford led fight as West Indies defeat England by 30 runs

West Indies registered an impressive 30-run triumph over England in the 15th Group C fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The West Indies got off to a horrible start, losing two early wickets (at 8 runs) inside the first 2 overs. However, they were able to put in a fantastic recovery, eventually finishing with 196 runs scored at a rate of 6 runs per over. England started their innings with some promise, but they were unable to develop sustained partnerships and finished with only 166 runs after 19 overs. This result demonstrated West Indies' ability to be resilient with the bat and to consistently put pressure on England's batting line-up with their bowling.

West Indies' recovery started with 23 runs scored by Shimron Hetmyer, quickly followed by 34 runs scored by Roston Chase, who played an important role in helping to steady the innings. The real hero of the innings was Sherfane Rutherford. He came to the crease at a very tricky time during the innings and combined poise and calculated aggression while he was at the crease. In doing so, Rutherford was able to change gears quite frequently according to how the innings unfolded and maintained a very high scoring rate due to his ability to regularly find the boundary despite England's bowlers trying to get back into the match through their use of spin and disciplined variations.

Rutherford had excellent contributions from Rovman Powell and then Jason Holder, who added a boost with their quick-fire 33 runs from 17 balls, respectively; they helped propel New Zeland to within striking distance of 200. Their 61-run partnership in the final overs of the game was absolutely critical. Adil Rashid had the best bowling performance for England, taking two wickets and being economical; however, everyone else was unable to do the same. Rutherford's total was an incredible 76 off of just 42 balls, and he was named Player Of The Match.

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Motie and Chase derail England’s chase

England began aggressively, racing to 67 in the PowerPlay with Phil Salt leading the charge through a rapid 30. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell added useful contributions, keeping the required rate within reach. However, the introduction of spin shifted momentum dramatically. Gudakesh Motie delivered a crucial spell, removing Bethell, Tom Banton, and Harry Brook to stall England’s progress and expose the middle order under mounting pressure.

Roston Chase complemented the effort with two vital wickets, while Akeal Hosein and Shamar Joseph maintained discipline in the closing overs. Though Sam Curran battled valiantly with an unbeaten 43, wickets continued to tumble at the other end. England’s lower order failed to construct meaningful stands, and successive run-outs compounded their woes. West Indies’ bowlers closed out the contest confidently, sealing a comprehensive 30-run win and strengthening their position in the group standings.

Top Performance

Sherfane Rutherford delivered a match-winning masterclass, smashing an unbeaten 76 off 42 balls to power West Indies to 196 for 6. Walking in after an early collapse, he rebuilt the innings with composure before launching a calculated assault in the death overs. His seven towering sixes shifted momentum decisively, and his crucial 61-run partnership with Jason Holder ensured a formidable total. Rutherford’s ability to balance stability with aggression under pressure earned him the Player of the Match award in a high-stakes contest.

Key Moments

The turning point came during England’s middle-order collapse against spin. Gudakesh Motie’s triple strike, including the wickets of Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook, halted England’s promising chase after a strong PowerPlay. Roston Chase further tightened the grip with two vital breakthroughs, exposing the lower order. Despite Sam Curran’s resistance, regular wickets and sharp fielding efforts, including late run-outs, prevented England from building sustained partnerships, sealing West Indies’ 30-run victory.