West Indies Complete Perfect Group Stage with Victory Over Italy
Kolkata, 19 February 2026
The West Indies maintained their flawless T20 World Cup campaign, defeating Italy by 42 runs at Eden Gardens to secure their place in the Super Eight stage with an unblemished record. Captain Shai Hope’s commanding 75 off 46 balls anchored their total of 165, whilst Shamar Joseph delivered a masterful all-round performance, claiming four wickets and four catches in a single match - a T20 international first.
Hope Anchors West Indies Batting Display
Italy’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss [1] proved challenging as they encountered early resistance from the West Indies batting lineup. The Caribbean side lost Brandon King for just 4 runs and the explosive Shimron Hetmyer for a single run within the first five overs [1], creating early pressure on their innings. However, captain Shai Hope steadied the ship with a masterful innings, compiling his second consecutive T20 World Cup fifty [1][8]. Hope’s knock of 75 off 46 balls featured six boundaries and four sixes [1], providing the foundation for West Indies’ competitive total. His innings came to an end in the 16th over when he was bowled by Italy’s Crishan Kalugamage [1][8], but not before establishing the platform for his team’s eventual victory.
Supporting Cast Contributes to Competitive Total
The middle order provided valuable contributions to push West Indies towards a defendable score. Roston Chase added 24 runs off 25 balls before falling to Ben Manenti [2], whilst Sherfane Rutherford remained unbeaten on 24 runs [2]. The lower order also chipped in effectively, with Matthew Forde finishing undefeated on 16 runs [2] and Jason Holder, playing his 300th international match [2], contributing 9 runs before departing. West Indies concluded their innings at 165-6 in their full allocation of 20 overs [1][7], posting what would prove to be a sufficient total despite being their lowest score in the tournament thus far [7]. For Italy, Kalugamage emerged as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-25 from his four overs [1], providing glimpses of competitive bowling from the associate nation.
Joseph’s Historic Performance Dismantles Italy
Italy’s chase began poorly as they slumped to 37-3 after the powerplay [1], with Matthew Forde making early inroads by claiming 3-19 [1][3]. The Italian batting lineup struggled to build meaningful partnerships throughout their innings, with only Jon-Jon Smuts managing 24 runs and Ben Manenti contributing 26 runs as the sole batsmen to pass the 20-run mark [1]. Shamar Joseph delivered the standout bowling performance, becoming the first player in T20 international history to achieve the remarkable feat of taking four catches and four wickets in a single match [1]. Joseph’s figures of 4-30 [1][7] proved devastating to Italy’s middle and lower order, as the associate nation was eventually dismissed for 123 runs in just 18 overs [1][7], falling short by 42 runs.
Perfect Record Sets Up Super Eight Challenge
This victory completed West Indies’ perfect group stage record, maintaining their status as the only team to win all four group matches [1][8]. The triumph secured their progression to the Super Eight stage, where they will face a formidable lineup including 2024 champions India, 2024 runners-up South Africa, and Zimbabwe, who stunned Australia to reach this stage [8]. Speaking after the match, Hope acknowledged areas for improvement despite the unblemished record: “We’ll have to find ways to be more forceful when the crunch time comes. We have batting depth but we need to be smart. Need to be clinical with strokeplay” [8]. Italy’s captain Harry Manenti expressed pride in his team’s maiden World Cup appearance, highlighting their competitive spirit against full member nations and calling for continued ICC support for associate cricket [8]. The Caribbean side’s next challenge arrives on Monday when they face Zimbabwe in Mumbai [1], as they attempt to maintain their momentum in the knockout phase of the tournament.