Mumbai, February 11, 2026 – West Indies delivered a commanding performance to defeat England by 30 runs in a T20 World Cup 2026 encounter at Mumbai. Sherfane Rutherford’s brilliant unbeaten 76 off 42 balls anchored the innings, helping the Men in Maroon set a strong total and defend it successfully.
West Indies Set a Strong Base
West Indies lost both openers early to England’s Archer and Curran, but Roston Chase steadied the innings before Rutherford took charge. He smashed boundaries at will, forming crucial partnerships, the largest being a 61-run stand with Jason Holder, whose cameo added further momentum. Apart from Rashid and Overton, every English bowler was taken apart, with Rashid finishing with a tidy 2 for 16.
England’s Chase Falters
England started aggressively, with Salt and Buttler keeping the scoreboard ticking. They reached 67/1 in the Powerplay, but Rutherford’s innings and disciplined bowling from Motie and Chase slowed the chase. The duo used clever variations, gripping deliveries, and regular wickets to keep England under pressure. Sam Curran offered resistance with 43 off 30 balls*, but the target proved too steep for the visitors.
Player of the Match: Sherfane Rutherford
Rutherford, awarded Player of the Match, spoke on his performance: “One of the biggest challenges was facing Adil Rashid, but building partnerships and batting till the end was key. I’ve put in a lot of hard work coming into this World Cup, and it’s paying off. Our bowlers did brilliantly to defend the total.”
Captain Reactions
Shai Hope (West Indies) said: “We played a more complete game today. Chase is crucial in any situation, and Rutherford stepped up when needed. It’s encouraging that our bowlers like Motie are evolving and performing on the world stage.”
Harry Brook (England) reflected: “West Indies were outstanding. The target seemed chaseable, but the pitch didn’t play as expected. We need to regroup and focus on our upcoming matches against Scotland and Italy.”
Looking Ahead: Day 6 Schedule
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues on Thursday, February 12, with a triple-header:
• Sri Lanka vs Oman in Colombo (Group B)
• Nepal vs Italy in Mumbai
• India vs Namibia in New Delhi
The action kicks off at 5:30 am GMT.
Summary
West Indies were clinical in batting, bowling, and fielding, proving one step ahead of England throughout the game. England’s first defeat in this World Cup highlights the need for sharper performances, while the Men in Maroon continue their strong run, boosting their net run rate and confidence.