KOLKATA — Guided by the poise of captain Shai Hope and the all-round brilliance of Shamar Joseph, the West Indies closed the group phase of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with another victory, defeating Italy by 42 runs on Thursday.
It was not a flawless performance, but it was decisive enough to deliver a fourth consecutive win in Group C and send the Caribbean side into the Super Eight stage brimming with momentum.
Hope anchored the innings with a composed 75, his second successive half-century, while Joseph later produced a match-defining spell to ensure the result was never in doubt.
A total built on patience and late power
After being sent in to bat at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the West Indies struggled to establish early control. Brandon King fell cheaply, continuing a lean run at the top, and Shimron Hetmyer soon followed as Italy’s seamers exploited early movement.
With the innings wobbling at 31 for two, Roston Chase joined Hope to rebuild. Though Chase labored for fluency during his 24 from 25 balls, their 64-run partnership stabilized the effort and shifted pressure back onto the fielding side.
Hope, initially measured, accelerated with authority. A towering six over cover signaled his intent before he reached fifty from just 28 balls, steering the innings toward respectability.
When Chase and then Rovman Powell departed in quick succession, the West Indies again faced the prospect of a below-par total. Hope’s dismissal for 75 left them precariously placed at 115 for five.
Late intervention proved decisive. Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 24 and Matthew Forde’s explosive 16 off eight deliveries transformed the closing overs, plundering 50 runs from the final five overs to lift the total to 165 for six, competitive, if not imposing.
Italy’s chase unravels
Italy’s pursuit never gathered sustained momentum. Forde struck early with a sharp inswinger to remove Justin Mosca and added another wicket soon after, reducing the chase to survival rather than ambition during the Powerplay.
Joseph then took command. Combining pace with relentless accuracy, he dismantled the middle order and applied pressure that Italy could not withstand. Captain Harry Manenti edged behind, while JJ Smuts fell attempting to force the tempo.
Joseph’s influence extended beyond the ball — he also held four catches, turning the contest decisively. His haul of four for 39, supported by Forde’s three wickets and Gudakesh Motie’s two, completed the collapse as Italy were dismissed for 123 in 18 overs.
Serious intent despite qualification
Though progression had already been secured, the West Indies signaled their seriousness by fielding the same line-up that had crushed Nepal days earlier. The approach reflected a team determined to build rhythm rather than experiment.
The result reinforced that mindset: even below their clinical best, they possessed the depth and resilience to control matches.
Next stop: The Super Eights
Unbeaten and increasingly cohesive, the West Indies now advance to the tournament’s decisive phase. Their Super Eight campaign begins against Zimbabwe on Monday at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
If this performance demonstrated anything, it is that the Caribbean side does not require perfection to prevail, only belief, firepower, and leaders willing to seize the moment.
