Sherfane Rutherford struck a scintillating unbeaten 76, while Gudakesh Motie returned figures of 3/32 as West Indies defeated England by 30 runs in their crucial Group C encounter of the ICC T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. The victory significantly boosted the Caribbean side’s prospects in the tournament after a commanding all-round display.

Rutherford anchored West Indies’ recovery from a shaky start, smashing five sixes and two fours in a 42-ball knock that electrified the 21,300-strong crowd. The Caribbean side had slumped to 79 for four at the halfway mark after losing early wickets, including captain Shai Hope and Brandon King. However, Rutherford steadied the innings with a composed partnership alongside Roston Chase (34) before accelerating sharply in the death overs.

A late surge transformed the innings as 117 runs were plundered in the final 10 overs. Jason Holder’s explosive 33 off 17 balls, featuring four sixes, provided vital support in a 61-run sixth-wicket stand off just 32 deliveries. Despite disciplined spells from Adil Rashid (2/16) and Jamie Overton (2/33), West Indies finished strongly at 196 for six, setting England a daunting target.

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England began aggressively, racing to 67 for one in the powerplay, with Phil Salt hammering 30 off just 14 balls. However, regular wickets stalled their momentum. Motie exploited the grip on offer, removing Tom Banton and Jacob Bethell in quick succession before claiming the key wicket of skipper Harry Brook with a sharp return catch. Roston Chase and Akeal Hosein provided effective support as England slipped to 135 for six.

Though Sam Curran remained unbeaten on 43, England were bowled out for 166 in 19 overs, unable to counter West Indies’ spin dominance. The result underscores West Indies’ resurgence in the shortest format, with their blend of power-hitting and disciplined spin bowling proving decisive at a pivotal stage of the tournament.

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