At a buzzing Eden Gardens, West Indies delivered a clinical all-round performance to defeat Italy by 42 runs in the 37th Match of Group C in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. After being asked to bat first, the Caribbean side posted a competitive 165/6 in their 20 overs before bundling Italy out for 123 in 18 overs. Shai Hope’s elegant 75 earned him the Player of the Match award, while Shamar Joseph’s fiery four-wicket haul ensured there was no late twist in the tale.
Shai Hope guides West Indies to competitive total
Put into bat after Italy elected to bowl, West Indies had a shaky start as Brandon King fell early for just four runs. Shimron Hetmyer also failed to make an impact, departing for a solitary run, leaving the innings in need of stability.
Hope stepped up beautifully to the occasion. Calm under pressure, he stitched together crucial partnerships and paced his innings to perfection. His 75 off 46 balls, studded with six boundaries and four towering sixes, was a blend of composure and calculated aggression. He found able support in Roston Chase, who contributed a steady 24 off 25 deliveries.
Although Rovman Powell couldn’t convert his start, Sherfane Rutherford injected momentum into the innings with a brisk 24 off just 15 balls. The late flourish came from Matthew Forde, whose 16 off eight balls, including three crisp boundaries, pushed the total beyond the 160-mark.
For Italy, Ben Manenti and Crishan Kalugamage impressed with two wickets apiece, while Ali Hasan and Thomas Jack Draca chipped in with one each. Despite their disciplined spells at various stages, they struggled to contain Hope during his dominant knock.
Shamar Joseph-led West Indies bowling attack dismantle Italy’s chase
Chasing 166 on a surface offering some assistance to spinners and pacers alike, Italy never truly found momentum. Justin Mosca was dismissed cheaply, and although Anthony Mosca counter-attacked with 19 off 12 balls, the West Indies bowlers kept striking at regular intervals.
JJ Smuts tried to anchor the innings with 24 off 27 deliveries, but the required rate kept climbing. Manenti played a fighting knock of 26 from 21 balls, and Grant Stewart’s cameo of 12 off seven briefly raised hopes, yet Italy lacked sustained partnerships.
Shamar Joseph was the standout performer with the ball. His express pace and sharp variations fetched him four wickets for 30 runs in four overs, breaking the backbone of Italy’s middle and lower order. Matthew Forde complemented him brilliantly, claiming three wickets for just 19 runs. Gudakesh Motie also made vital inroads with two scalps, while Akeal Hosein chipped in with one. Italy were eventually bowled out for 123 in the 18th over, falling well short of the target.
West Indies beat Italy by 42 runs and maintain their 100% winning record in the 2026 T20 WC 🏏#WIvsITA #T20WorldCup2026 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/6kCIqEE46g
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 19, 2026
