Brook: England yet to play 'perfect game' despite edging towards Super 8s

Kolkata — England captain Harry Brook insists his side have still not produced the “perfect game” at the T20 World Cup, even after Tom Banton’s sparkling unbeaten 63 steered the defending champions to a five-wicket win over Scotland and within sight of the Super 8s.

Chasing 153 at a sweltering Eden Gardens, England slipped to 86-4 before Banton and Jacob Bethell (32) added 66 in quick time. Banton finished 63 not out from 41 balls as the target was reached with 10 deliveries to spare, lifting England to four points from three Group C outings and second place behind the West Indies.

The victory followed a nerve-shredding four-run squeak against Nepal and a 30-run defeat to the West Indies, leaving Brook to concede that fluency has been elusive.

“We haven’t quite had that perfect game yet,” the skipper said. “They’ve all been a little bit niggly. Hopefully we can have an easier game against Italy, play the cricket everybody knows and loves, and put smiles on some faces back home.”

England must beat Italy on Monday (live from 9.30am on Sky Sports Cricket) to guarantee progression, and Brook is eager for an upward curve. “We just haven’t hit our strengths so far. Hopefully that comes. We don’t want to peak too early, but we obviously want to get through the group, and Italy can be the start of the rise.”

Former World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan urged patience, noting England’s history of scrapping through pool play before peaking. “Group-stage games are sometimes the most difficult because you’re begging and stealing to get to the latter stages,” Morgan told Sky Sports. “When we won in 2010 we went through on net run rate; in 2022 we did it in very similar circumstances. I’d be reluctant to judge the template just yet.”

With the ball against Scotland, Adil Rashid’s leg-spin claimed 3-36, while Jofra Archer (2-24) and Jamie Overton (2-34) helped trigger a collapse from 113-3 to 127-8. Scotland were dismissed for 152 in 19.4 overs, a total that never looked safe once Banton took control.

Bethell, who shared the pivotal stand, praised the bowlers and credited Banton’s calm head. “It was a nervy start with the bat—the ball seemed to swing more in the second innings—but Banton did unbelievably to get us over the line.”

Brook echoed the sentiment: “Tom was awesome. He’s slid in nicely at No 4, looks to take down the spinners, and it came off today.”

England’s final group assignment comes against winless Italy on Monday. A victory seals their spot in the Super 8s and, Brook hopes, kick-starts the swagger that has brought 12 wins in their last 14 T20 internationals.

England vs Italy is live on Sky Sports Cricket from 9.30am UK and Ireland time, with every ball of the Men’s T20 World Cup available on Sky platforms through the final on March 8.