Spinners Script West Indies’ Dominant 30-Run Win Over England at Wankhede

Mumbai, Feb 2026 : West Indies produced a commanding all-round performance, led by their spinners Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase, to defeat England by 30 runs in Match 15 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. Defending a challenging total of 196, the Caribbean side bowled England out for 166 in 19 overs, sealing a memorable victory over the former champions after a gap of 10 years.

On a surface that offered grip and assistance to both seamers early and spinners later, West Indies showcased adaptability and discipline. Motie emerged as the chief architect of England’s collapse, returning impressive figures of 3/33, while Chase, who had earlier contributed a crucial 34 with the bat, picked up 2/29 to cap a fine all-round showing.

Chasing a stiff target, England began with intent. Openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler put pressure on the bowlers from the outset, adding 38 runs for the first wicket. Salt looked particularly aggressive, smashing 30 off just 14 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, before Romario Shepherd broke the partnership. Buttler continued to anchor the innings and, along with Jacob Bethell, took England to 67/1 at the end of the Power-play.

However, the momentum shifted soon after. Chase provided the breakthrough by dismissing Buttler for 21, caught by Rovman Powell, triggering a middle-order slowdown. Gudakesh Motie then took control of the contest, striking twice in quick succession to remove Tom Banton and Bethell. Bethell’s 33 off 23 balls had kept England in touch, but his dismissal left England struggling at 90/4 halfway through the chase.

England skipper Harry Brook attempted to rebuild the innings alongside Sam Curran, and the pair added 41 valuable runs for the fifth wicket. Just as England looked to launch a late surge, Motie struck again, outfoxing Brook for 17 and leaving England five down at 131. From there, the asking rate climbed steeply, and wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

Curran fought valiantly, displaying composure and power in equal measure, but found little support from the other end. Will Jacks, Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer departed in quick succession, unable to counter the disciplined bowling and sharp fielding of the West Indies. With 47 runs required from the final three overs, England’s hopes rested solely on Curran.

The pressure proved too much. Liam Dawson was run out, and Adil Rashid was caught by Chase off Shamar Joseph, ending England’s resistance at 166. Curran remained unbeaten on 43 off 30 balls, but his effort was not enough to prevent England from slipping to their second defeat of the tournament.

Earlier in the day, West Indies had displayed remarkable resilience with the bat. After being reduced to 8/2 early and struggling at 77/4 midway, Sherfane Rutherford played a match-defining innings, smashing an unbeaten 76 off 42 balls. He was well supported by Chase and Jason Holder, whose late fireworks propelled West Indies to a formidable 196/6.

The victory lifted West Indies to the top of Group C with four points, underlining their credentials as serious contenders in the tournament. England, meanwhile, slipped to third place behind Scotland, their net run rate taking a hit after another disappointing outing.

Brief Scores:
West Indies 196/6 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 76*, Roston Chase 34, Jason Holder 33; Adil Rashid 2-16, Jamie Overton 2-33) beat England 166 all out in 19 overs (Sam Curran 43*, Jacob Bethell 33, Phil Salt 30; Gudakesh Motie 3-33, Roston Chase 2-29) by 30 runs.