At Eden Gardens, the West Indies showcased a strong all-round performance, defeating Italy by 42 runs in the 37th Match of Group C in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Batting first, the West Indies scored 165/6 in their 20 overs and then dismissed Italy for 123 in 18 overs. Shai Hope earned the Player of the Match award for his impressive 75 runs, while Shamar Joseph took four wickets to secure the win.
Shai Hope leads West Indies to a strong total
Opting to bat first after Italy chose to bowl, West Indies started poorly, losing Brandon King for just four runs. Shimron Hetmyer followed, scoring only one run, putting pressure on the batting side.
Hope responded well, anchoring the innings with key partnerships. He scored 75 off 46 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes, balancing calmness with aggression. Roston Chase offered support with a measured 24 off 25 balls.
Rovman Powell could not capitalize on his start, but Sherfane Rutherford added momentum with 24 runs off 15 balls. Matthew Forde finished strong with 16 runs off eight balls, helping the team surpass 160.
For Italy, Ben Manenti and Crishan Kalugamage took two wickets each, while Ali Hasan and Thomas Jack Draca took one each. Despite their efforts, they struggled to contain Hope’s innings.
Shamar Joseph and West Indies’ bowling dismantle Italy’s chase
Facing a target of 166, Italy struggled to build momentum on a pitch favorable for both spinners and pacers. Justin Mosca was out early, and although Anthony Mosca scored 19 off 12 balls, the West Indies bowlers maintained pressure.
JJ Smuts aimed to stabilize the innings with 24 runs off 27 balls, but the required run rate escalated. Manenti fought back with 26 runs from 21 balls, and Grant Stewart‘s quick 12 off seven balls provided a brief uplift, but Italy couldn’t form solid partnerships.
Shamar Joseph shone with the ball, taking four wickets for 30 runs in four overs, effectively dismantling Italy’s middle order. Matthew Forde also performed well, securing three wickets for 19 runs. Gudakesh Motie contributed with two wickets, while Akeal Hosein added one. Italy was ultimately bowled out for 123 in the 18th over, falling short of their target.
