Englandof T20 World Cup The campaign suffered a significant setback with a 30-run defeat against the West Indies in Mumbai.

The two-time champions, who famously lost to the Windies in a dramatic final in 2016, narrowly avoided a humiliating defeat in their opener against fellow nation Nepal.

However, there was no escape at the Wankhede Stadium as the Windies cruised to a 30-run win.

It was a game in which England were outplayed in all aspects, with Sherfan Rutherford the talisman as the Windies got off to a dreadful start with the bat, winning two from two.

Scherfan shines again for West Indies

The Windies were reduced to 8-2 in seven balls as captain Shai Hope was dismissed by Jofra Acher and Brandon King fell to Sam Curran for a wicket two balls later.

Although England failed to press their advantage, Shimron Hetmyer (23) and Roston Chase (34) began the recovery, the latter hitting six fours off 29 balls.

But it was Rutherford who proved the difference maker. He scored 26 off 13 balls in the win over Scotland to open the campaign, but took things to another level against England, when he hit seven sixes and a pair of fours in an unbeaten 76 off 42 balls.

Rutherford shared a partnership of 51 with Rowman Powell and 61 with Jason Holder, the latter hitting four sixes in his 17-ball 33 as the Windies posted an impressive 196-6, the score of which saw Adil Rashid take his 400th T20 wicket in England’s bowling effort.

With Jos Buttler (21) and Jacob Bethel (33) set at the crease after Phil Salt’s dismissal for 30, England looked like they would respond in kind.

However, Buttler, Tom Benton (2) and Bethel departed three overs apart, the latter pair dismissed by the impressive Gudakesh Mote (3-33) before captain Harry Brook was caught and bowled by the same man for 17.

This leaves Sam Curran, whose death bowling saved England against Nepal, with another rescue mission. Yet he received invaluable support from the lower order and was stranded for 43 when Rashid dismissed Chase, whose stunning catch at deep square leg summed up the difference between the two sides.

Why Brooke’s entry sums up Sorry England

While Windies look lucky Top the Group CEngland captain Brooke admitted that they would have been in a tough position if they had not held on against Nepal.

He said in the post-match presentation: “We probably thought it (197) was chaseable for sure. It probably didn’t mist as much as we expected, it probably didn’t turn on the bat as much as we expected.

“Thank God we won against Nepal the other night otherwise we would have been in a tough situation.”

A team with England’s level of talent should not be in a position to be expected to get through that group.

England will almost certainly still progress to the Super 8s, but no team will fear them after their poor recent efforts.

Brooke’s men are next in action against Scotland in Kolkata on Valentine’s Day, while the West Indies can look forward to what should be regular wins over Nepal and Italy. They will face Nepal on Sunday.

England’s last meeting with Scotland in the T20 World Cup in 2024 ended without a result due to rain. Heartbreak for them against their neighbors in Saturday’s meeting would put them on course for an embarrassing early exit.