Kolkata, Feb 16 (NationPress) England all-rounder Will Jacks expressed that his first T20I half-century was a ‘long time coming’, following a match-winning display that propelled his team into the Super Eights of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating Italy in their Group C encounter at Eden Gardens.

“We discussed our performance in the previous matches, focusing on maintaining our intent. At times, we have been somewhat static. We recognized the pitch was excellent and that scoring quickly is possible here. Batting first, we weren't sure what total would be sufficient, so that was our mindset throughout,” Jacks mentioned during the post-match presentation after being awarded Player of the Match.

Jacks was instrumental in England setting a strong total of 202/7, anchoring the innings with a steady unbeaten 53, ensuring his team kept the momentum on a high-scoring pitch. Reflecting on his significant innings, Jacks conveyed his happiness at finally reaching this achievement after adjusting to multiple roles within the squad.

“It feels like this has been a long time coming. There have been several role adjustments along the way, and it took a while. So, it’s gratifying to achieve this. I feel like I’m starting to fit into my role down the order quite nicely now,” he added.

He also shared insights into his scoring strategy on a ground famous for its short straight boundaries, stressing the need to target specific areas, stating, “Always aim straight. The boundary is short down the ground, and they were aiming for the blockhole late in the innings. Thus, we always target straight and make adjustments from there.”

Jacks’ impact extended beyond batting, as he made a critical breakthrough by getting Italy's captain Ben Manenti out, whose aggressive innings had posed a significant threat to the match.

“He played exceptionally well and was hitting the ball better than any of us. Initially, I aimed to bowl full and straight but missed slightly, and he capitalized on that. So, I adjusted to bowl wider, and thankfully, I secured that wicket. Had he batted for a few more overs, who knows what might have transpired,” he noted.

Despite England's qualification, Jacks acknowledged that the team still needed to address certain aspects as they move into the next phase of the tournament. Looking forward to the Super Eights, he recognized the difficulties presented by new conditions and opponents.

“Yes, the most important thing is that we've qualified. How we achieved that is secondary. We are aware we need to improve significantly. It’s straightforward. We’re heading to Sri Lanka now, facing different conditions and new opponents. There’s a lot we need to work on, and we’ll do our utmost,” he concluded.