West Indies beat Italy by 42 runs in Match 37 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on February 19. Shai Hope anchored the West Indies innings with 75 off 46 balls, and their bowlers then dismantled Italy for just 123 in 18 overs.
Hope took home the Player of the Match award for his batting and two catches behind the stumps. Shamar Joseph was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets in 4 overs.
Match Summary: WI vs ITA
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| West Indies Score | 165/6 (20 overs) |
| Italy Score | 123 all out (18 overs) |
| Match Result | West Indies won by 42 runs |
| Best Batting (WI) | Shai Hope – 75 off 46 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) |
| Best Batting (ITA) | Ben Manenti – 26 off 21 balls (2 fours, 1 six) |
| Best Bowling (WI) | Shamar Joseph – 4/30 in 4 overs (Econ: 7.50) |
| Best Bowling (ITA) | Crishan Kalugamage – 2/25 in 4 overs (Econ: 6.25) |
| Player of the Match | Shai Hope (WI) – 75 (46) & 2 catches |
West Indies Innings: 165/6 in 20 Overs
West Indies lost Brandon King in the very first over, caught off Ali Hasan. Shimron Hetmyer followed cheaply for 1, leaving West Indies at 31/2 early. Despite the shaky start, they still put up 48 runs in the powerplay.
Shai Hope held the innings together. He reached his fifty off just 28 balls and kept West Indies ticking with Roston Chase (24 off 25). The two built a 64-run third-wicket stand to stabilise the chase.
Hope fell for 75 in the 15th over, and Rovman Powell (9) went soon after. Sherfane Rutherford (24 off 15) and Matthew Forde (16 off 8) pushed the total to 165 in the final overs.
Crishan Kalugamage and Ben Manenti were Italy’s best bowlers, each taking 2 wickets. Ali Hasan chipped in with 1 wicket at an economy of 8.00.
Italy Chase: 123 All Out in 18 Overs
Italy needed 166 to win, but never got going. They lost 3 wickets in the powerplay, reaching just 37/3 after 6 overs. Justin Mosca (2) and Syed Naqvi (6) fell early, and Anthony Mosca (19) was dismissed before the end of the third over.
JJ Smuts top-scored with 24 off 27 but struggled to accelerate. Ben Manenti (26 off 21) and Grant Stewart (12 off 7) showed some fight lower down, but Italy kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Matthew Forde was outstanding with the ball, taking 3 wickets for just 19 runs. Shamar Joseph wrapped up the tail with 4 wickets, and Gudakesh Motie added 2 more. Italy were all out for 123 in 18 overs.
West Indies bowled Italy out with 2 overs to spare, winning comfortably by 42 runs.
Key Highlight: Player of the Match – Shai Hope’s Commanding Display
Hope was the backbone of West Indies’ innings. After two early wickets fell, he took control and steered his side to a competitive total. His 75 off 46 balls kept the scoreboard moving throughout.
- With the bat: 75 off 46 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes) | SR: 163.04
- Behind the stumps: 2 catches
He reached his fifty off just 28 balls and added 2 sharp catches as wicketkeeper to complete a well-rounded match-winning performance.
