West Indies vs Italy: WI Won by 42 Runs | Full Scorecard & Match Report
Match Details
- Match: WI vs ITA, 37th Match, Group C
- Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
- Venue: Eden Gardens
- Toss: Italy won the toss and opted to bowl
- Result: West Indies won by 42 runs
West Indies delivered a dominant all-round performance to defeat Italy by 42 runs in a crucial Group C encounter at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. A brilliant knock from captain Shai Hope and a fiery spell from Shamar Joseph sealed a comfortable win for the Caribbean side.
West Indies Innings – 165/6 (20 Overs)
Batting first after Italy chose to field, West Indies posted a competitive total of 165/6 in 20 overs at a run rate of 8.25.
Key Performers
- Shai Hope (c & wk) – 75 (46 balls, 6 fours, 4 sixes)
- Roston Chase – 24 (25 balls)
- Sherfane Rutherford – 24* (15 balls)
- Matthew Forde – 16* (8 balls, 3 fours)
Shai Hope anchored the innings brilliantly. After early wickets of Brandon King (4) and Shimron Hetmyer (1), Hope built a crucial 64-run partnership with Roston Chase that stabilized the innings.
In the death overs, Sherfane Rutherford and Matthew Forde accelerated sharply, adding valuable runs to push the total beyond 160.
Italy Bowling Highlights
- Ben Manenti – 4-0-37-2
- Crishan Kalugamage – 4-0-25-2
- Ali Hasan – 3-0-24-1
Italy bowled disciplined spells in the middle overs but leaked runs in the final overs.
🇮🇹 Italy Innings – 123 All Out (18 Overs)
Chasing 166, Italy struggled against West Indies’ pace and spin attack, eventually getting bowled out for 123 in 18 overs.
Italy Batting Highlights
- Ben Manenti – 26 (21 balls)
- JJ Smuts – 24 (27 balls)
- Anthony Mosca – 19 (12 balls)
Italy lost early wickets in the powerplay and never fully recovered. Despite brief partnerships in the middle overs, regular wickets derailed their chase.
West Indies Bowling Attack
West Indies bowlers were clinical and relentless:
- Shamar Joseph – 4-0-30-4
- Matthew Forde – 4-0-19-3
- Gudakesh Motie – 4-0-24-2
- Akeal Hosein – 3-0-25-1
Shamar Joseph was the standout performer, picking up four wickets including the final blow. Matthew Forde provided excellent support with three crucial wickets.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 165/6 | 20 |
| Italy | 123 all out | 18 |
Result: West Indies won by 42 runs
Turning Points of the Match
- Shai Hope’s 75-run masterclass steadied the innings after early setbacks.
- 64-run partnership with Roston Chase shifted momentum.
- Shamar Joseph’s 4-wicket haul crushed Italy’s chase.
- Italy failed to build long partnerships under pressure.
What This Means
With this victory, West Indies strengthen their position in Group C of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Their balanced performance with both bat and ball shows strong momentum heading into the knockout stages.
Italy showed fighting spirit but struggled against the experience and depth of the Caribbean side.
Player of the Match
While no official award mentioned, Shai Hope and Shamar Joseph were the standout performers of the match.