England captain Brook confident of Super 8 qualification despite West Indies loss

Mumbai — England captain Harry Brook insists his side’s path to the T20 World Cup Super 8 remains intact after a 30-run defeat to the West Indies left them third in Group C with two fixtures to play.

Set 197 on a used surface at the Wankhede, England were dismissed for 166 in the 19th over as slow left-arm duo Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein, supported by off-spinner Roston Chase, shared seven wickets and exposed familiar frailties against spin.

The loss follows a narrow opening-night escape against Nepal, and means Saturday’s meeting with Scotland in Kolkata is now effectively a knockout. A second defeat would leave England on two points and vulnerable to an early exit.

Brook, leading the side in his first global event as captain, refused to accept the campaign is drifting off course. “You have to be confident in this game,” he told Sky Sports Cricket. “We thank God we won against Nepal the other night, otherwise we’d be in a tricky situation. We play Scotland and Italy next. We’ve just got to go back, do our homework on them, go back to the basics and see how we go.”

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain believes the West Indies performance should serve as a wake-up call rather than a death knell. “You have to give credit to how well the West Indies spinners bowled,” Hussain said. “It is survival of the fittest nowadays in T20 cricket and adapting, because your match-up is never going to always be in your favour. If there is an Achilles heel, it is the playing of spin for England.”

Hussain pointed to Phil Salt’s early assault on the seamers as proof of England’s explosive depth, but warned the Scotland clash now carries added jeopardy. “That Scotland game becomes absolutely key,” he added. “Scotland, in the last World Cup in Barbados, caused a bit of a scare for England. If England lose to Scotland, Scotland go to four points, England are on two and then anything can happen.”

Still, Hussain backed England to advance if they address their spin issue. “I expect England to beat Scotland and I expect them to beat Italy. One loss against the West Indies is not doom and gloom. You’re still a very good side.”

England’s final group matches against Scotland and Italy will be shown live on Sky Sports, with the winners progressing to the Super 8 phase in Sri Lanka.