West Indies make it 4 in 4, crush Italy’s send-off hopes before Super 8s

West Indies will march into the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a spotless record, completing four wins in four group-stage matches after crushing Italy’s hopes of a dream send-off in Kolkata on Thursday.

Shai Hope scored 75 runs off 46 balls, including six boundaries and four sixes. After that, Roston Chase and Sherfane Rutherford also played an important innings for their team. Both the batters scored 24 runs each and helped the team to reach a fighting total of 165-6.

For Italy, Ben Manenti and Crishan Kalugamage were the key players for the team as both players took two wickets. Manenti took Roston Chase and Rovman Powell’s wicket. While Crisban took Shai Hope and Jason Holder’s wicket. 

Ali Hasan and Thomas Draca also dismissed Brandon King and Shimron Hetmyer and stopped West Indies on an average score.

However, Italy, the tournament’s newest European entrants, had arrived at their maiden World Cup with plenty of buzz and the promise of an exciting future. 

But against a seasoned West Indies outfit, their campaign ended with a harsh lesson in experience and execution as the Windies sealed a commanding 42-run win at Eden Gardens.

Italy started poorly as the opening pair, Justin Mosca and Anthony Mosca, failed to begin a good innings and dismissed for (2) and (19). 

JJ Smuts and Ben Manenti tried to score runs for the team and also played some great shots. Smuts scored 24 runs off 27 balls, including three fours. 

While, Manenti made 26 runs off 21 balls, including two fours and one six. 

West Indies (165/6 in 20 ov) beat Italy (123 all-out in 18 ovs) by 42 runs in Kolkata Group C match.