West Indies’ bowling attack fired on all cylinders to hand Italy a 42-run defeat in their T20 World Cup 2026 Group C encounter at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens. Setting a competitive 166, the defending champions watched as their seamers and spinners ran riot.
Shamar Joseph led the charge with career-best figures of 4/30 in four overs, supported by Matthew Forde’s 3/19. Motie’s spin yielded 2/24, restricting Italy to 123 in 18 overs. Smuts (24), Manenti (26), Fonseca (19), and Stewart (12) were the only batters to reach double figures, as early losses of the Mosca brothers derailed the chase.
Earlier, Hope’s captain’s knock of 75 (46 balls, 6×4, 4×6) rescued West Indies from a shaky start. Chase (24), Rutherford (24*), and Forde (16) ensured a strong finish at 165/6. Italy’s Manenti and Kalugamage grabbed two wickets apiece, but couldn’t contain the scoring.
Player of the Match Shai Hope reflected on a ‘practice match’ vibe, with West Indies already through to Super-8. This result underscores their depth and Italy’s struggles, setting up intriguing group dynamics ahead.