Sam Curran was unable to dig England out of a hole at the T20 World Cup again as their struggles against spin in Asia resurfaced in a 30-run loss to the West Indies in Mumbai.
Curran’s nerveless death bowling meant England avoided a shock defeat against Nepal on Sunday and he was at the coalface with the bat after his side slipped from 74 for one to 141 for seven in pursuit of 197.
England had succumbed to slow left-armers Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein and off-spinner Roston Chase before Curran was left stranded on an unbeaten 43 as England were all out for 166 in 18.5 overs
Defeat was tough on Adil Rashid, whose two for 16 following a rare off day against Nepal stopped the Windies from amassing more than 196 for six in an innings containing 13 sixes.
Seven of them came from Sherfane Rutherford, who made a T20 international best 76 off 42 balls after being given two reprieves to help the Windies recover from 77 for four, adding 113 in the last nine overs.
England, though, took their foot off the gas by giving Will Jacks a second over following an expensive first, and Rutherford hardly looked back, but the total was not out of reach until the Windies’ slow bowling trio got to work after the powerplay.
Spin in this part of the world has traditionally been an Achilles heel for England, who had won 11 of their last 12 T20s and seven in eight against the Windies, and it was exposed again here.