England avoid biggest shock in World Cup history by skin of their teeth – but they have no chance of winning the top prize playing like this, writes RICHARD GIBSON

After surviving what would have been the biggest shock in World Cup history, there was a sense of relief. With it, a dose of reality: England might be telling themselves that the comforts of Sri Lanka await for the Super Eights but they have no chance of a third Twenty20 title playing like this.

Tournament outsiders Italy, opponents 23 places below them in the rankings, made them sweat profusely before passage from Group C was secured by a 24-run margin, adding to struggles against other associate nations Nepal and Scotland either side of crumbling to West Indies.

At several moments during this contest, England appeared to have killed off the challenge of a team missing its influential captain, Wayne Madsen, only to revitalise the hopes of an opposition team including a taxi driver, a student and a pizza chef with lacklustre periods.

Italy lost two wickets inside the opening over of a chase of 203 at Eden Gardens, and were soon 22 for three thanks to a stupendous piece of agility behind the stumps from Jos Buttler, who hauled down a scoop from Madsen’s stand-in Harry Manenti.

However, that simply invited jeopardy to the crease in the form of the elder Manenti brother, Ben, who eviscerated England’s attack with a 25-ball 60 that included six muscular sixes.

Every time he faced a new bowler, Manenti, one of the few professional cricketers in the Azzurri line-up, slipped into ultra aggression, striking two boundaries off his first two balls, sent down by Will Jacks, and mauling Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson for sixes at the start of new spells.

It meant Italy were ahead of England’s comparative score at the halfway stage and were still daring to dream when Manenti took 20 off four balls in the 12th over of the innings, sent down by man-of-the-match Jacks.

‘There were some emotions going around the group. Everyone was starting to get on their feet and clap and I was trying to rein in my emotions and try to stay calm because I knew the game could change and it did change – a good team like England aren’t going to just hand over a win,’ said Harry Manenti.

Indeed, Jacks snared his man from the final delivery of the over, profiting demo throwing it out wide from around the wicket when it was dragged to long-on.

It looked like the unfamiliarity of playing under lights – some of the Italians had not done so until arriving in India, and were not accustomed to 15,000 crowds either – would tell but even then they refused to buckle, with Kent’s Grant Stewart pummelling England’s premier bowlers Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer for a tally of three and two sixes respectively.

Jaspreet Singh, a Birmingham Uber driver, also contributed to a 13-12 win on the six count, leaving a 30-run requirement from the final two overs.

But for the second time in the match, those called upon in late innings by England out-performed those that went before, as Sam Curran took the sting out the game with Stewart’s dismissal before Jamie Overton applied the finishing touches.

Closing out innings with the ball was a perceived weakness ahead of this tournament, but is arguably becoming a strength, albeit against modest opposition. Curran finished with three for 22 while Overton’s three for 18 represented career-best figures.

Equally, England viewed an opening partnership of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler as a strength. It is yet to extend beyond the fourth over in four outings.

The latest sticky start meant a maiden half-century by Jacks – in 21 balls – was required to realign the innings from a position of 105 for five. In all, 78 runs came from the final 30 deliveries alongside Curran and Overton, taking England out of range – but only just.

‘We haven’t played our best cricket but we are heading through,’ said Brook, hoping the change of scene helps. 

Frankly, however, it will require a change in application too.