At Eden Gardens, the West Indies continued their commanding form in the T20 World Cup with a 42-run triumph over Italy, marking an emphatic end to the group stage. After West Indies posted a competitive 165 for 6, Italian supporters must have been hopeful of an upset, recalling Italy’s valiant 178-run chase against England just days earlier.
However, Italy struggled to keep pace. They lost three wickets for just 37 runs during the powerplay and gradually fell behind, ultimately being bowled out for 123 in 18 overs. This result confirmed West Indies’ place in the Super Eight, having already secured advancement.
Italian batting falters
Cameron-born pacer Matthew Ford broke the opening partnership by dismissing Justin Mosca in the second over, ending the initial threat from the Mosca brothers. Spin bowler Akeel Hosen followed up by removing Anthony Mosca for 19 off 12 balls in the very next over, while Said Nakvi fell to Ford two overs later.
The pressure of early wickets meant Italy needed a substantial partnership to recover—something that never materialised. No subsequent pairing added more than 25 runs, with Ben Manenti top-scoring at 26. By the 12th over, after Smuts (24) was dismissed, Italy’s chase had steadily crumbled. Despite needing 72 runs from the final six overs with five wickets in hand, they could not last the full 20 overs.
Joseph’s record-breaking performance
West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph was the standout performer, claiming 4 wickets for just 30 runs and taking 4 catches. This remarkable all-round fielding and bowling effort made him the first cricketer in international T20 cricket, men’s or women’s, to achieve 4 wickets and 4 catches in a single match. Furthermore, he became only the fifth fielder outside of wicketkeeping to take four catches in a T20 World Cup match.
West Indies’ innings
Batting first on a batting-friendly Eden Gardens pitch, West Indies were well paced. After 10 overs, the score stood at 76 for 2, with the final 10 overs producing a further 89 runs. Captain Shai Hope anchored the innings with a composed 75 from 46 balls, while Roaston Chase (24*) and Sherfan Rutherford (24*) remained unbeaten to ensure a strong total.
Group standings
West Indies completed the ‘C’ group stage with four wins from four matches, topping the table with eight points. Italy, with just one win and two points from four matches, finished fourth, ending their World Cup campaign.
Match Summary
| Team | Overs | Score | Top Scorers | Top Bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 20 | 165/6 | Hope 75, Chase 24, Rutherford 24* | Manenti 2/37, Kalugamage 2/25 |
| Italy | 18 | 123 | Manenti 26, Smuts 24, Mosca 19 | Joseph 4/30, Ford 3/19, Moti 2/24 |
Result: West Indies won by 42 runs
Player of the Match: Shai Hope (West Indies)
Shamar Joseph’s exceptional contribution with both ball and in the field highlighted his rising stature and will be remembered as one of the finest individual displays in this edition of the T20 World Cup.