4 min learnFeb 19, 2026 04:27 PM IST
West Indies, solely the third unbeaten workforce on this version of the T20 World Cup alongside India and South Africa, had been anticipated to brush debutants Italy apart, extra so after being despatched out to bat first on a batting-friendly floor on the Eden Gardens. However their batting lineup, besides captain Shai Hope, who scored a brisk 75, failed to fireside towards a resilient Italian bowling assault. The West Indies bowlers, nevertheless, saved them the blushes by masterminding a 42-run victory as Italy’s first World Cup ended with only a lone win and loads of what ifs.
The Hope-led outfit was rocked early as Brandon King was despatched again within the second over by Ali Hasan for simply 4 runs. Such was the accuracy of the Italian bowling that West Indies took three overs to get their first boundary of the match which got here off the willow of Hope who carved Thomas Draca for a 4. That was adopted by one other as he cleared the infield simply to mine Draca for 10 runs within the over.
That opened the floodgates of types as Hope slammed two fours and a most off the 4th over however needed to see his strike companion Shimron Hetmyer depart for only one run, snapped up by Draca. Hope, nevertheless, continued to chip in with boundaries, accumulating 12 from the fifth over with the Windies reaching 48/2 after powerplay.
Hope would give the identical remedy to Ben Manenti, slapping him for a flat six which introduced up West Indies’ workforce fifty within the seventh over after which adopted it up with a half century of his personal in 28 deliveries. On the different finish, nevertheless, Roston Chase struggled to speed up, taking 16 deliveries to hit his first boundary.
Whereas Italy negated Chase, they struggled to rein in Hope because the Windies captain continued together with his merry methods, serving to his workforce get to 100 runs within the 14th over with a most. Chase’s struggles would finish earlier than Windies reached the three figures as he holed out to Anthony Mosca within the deep off Ben. Rovman Powell, in at No.5, didn’t final lengthy both, falling to Ben for simply 9.
Hope’s vigil was additionally snuffed out by Crishan Kalugamage who castled the Windies opener for 75. After that, Sherfane Rutherford with Matthew Forde in tow, chipped in with 24 and 16 respectively to assist the Windies publish a good 165/6.
Anthony and Justin, the Mosca brothers, wanted to get Italy off to a good begin in a difficult chase however the latter couldn’t observe up on his gritty 43 versus England, getting cleaned up for simply two runs by Matthew Forde. Anthony, in the meantime, slammed two sixes off Akeal Hosein solely to fall to the spinner in the identical over for 19. With the Windies tightening the screws, the strain paid off quickly as Syed Naqvi, trying to speed up, acquired his shot all incorrect and gave a dolly to Shamar Joseph with Italy managing to succeed in 37/3 after powerplay.
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Joseph struck with the ball subsequent, sending again captain Harry Manenti for 8 as Italy misplaced 4 wickets for 57. JJ Smuts, who regarded assured within the center for his 24, was the following man to depart as he fell to Gudakesh Motie. The Italians in the end acquired to their 100 within the fifteenth over, courtesy of again to again boundaries by Ben, the youthful Manenti brother.
Nonetheless, Italy’s troubles had been compounded when Grant Stewart, who helped them nearly pull off an upset within the final match, was despatched again for simply 12 this time round by Joseph. Ben went again quickly for 26 as Motie snapped up his second wicket as Italy sunk additional into the mire.
Forde grabbed his third scalp as Gian Meade slashed proper into the mitts of the fielder whereas Joseph accomplished his 4-wicket haul, snapping up Draca and Hasan for five and 0 respectively.
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