West Indies Secure Top Spot with Dominant 42-Run Win Over Italy

The West Indies maintained their perfect record in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday, defeating Italy by 42 runs at the iconic Eden Gardens. This clinical performance ensures the two-time champions finish the group stage with four wins from four matches, heading into the Super 8s as the undisputed leaders of Group C.

Earlier in the tournament, we previewed this matchup in detail, breaking down Italy’s chances against the Caribbean giants. You can read the full analysis here: West Indies vs Italy: Can Italy Challenge the Caribbean Giants?

Match Summary

• West Indies: 165/6 (20 overs)
• Italy: 123 all out (18.1 overs)
• Result: West Indies won by 42 runs.
• Player of the Match: Shai Hope.

Hope and Rutherford Power the Innings

After being asked to bat first on a surface that offered some early assistance to the seamers, the West Indies found themselves in a spot of bother. Openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis fell cheaply, leaving the middle order to rebuild. Captain Shai Hope stood tall, playing a masterful innings of 75 off just 46 balls. His knock, decorated with six boundaries and four massive sixes, provided the backbone for the Caribbean total.

Italy’s bowlers, led by Crishan Kalugamage (2/25), performed admirably for the first 15 overs, keeping the scoring rate in check. However, a late-innings surge from Sherfane Rutherford, who smashed an unbeaten 24 off 12 deliveries, pushed the West Indies to a competitive 165/6. Italy’s disciplined effort in the field was a highlight, but the sheer power of the West Indian lower order proved difficult to contain in the death overs.

Shamar Joseph Leads Bowling Masterclass

Italy’s chase started with a flurry of boundaries from Justin Mosca, but the momentum was short-lived. Matthew Forde provided the early breakthrough before Shamar Joseph took over the contest. Joseph was in inspired form, ripping through the Italian top and middle order to finish with career-best figures of 4 for 30.

In an extraordinary individual display, Joseph also claimed four catches in the field, becoming only the second player in T20 international history to take four wickets and four catches in the same match. Despite a gritty 26 from Ben Manenti and some defiant strokes from the lower order, Italy was eventually bundled out for 123 in the 19th over. The Italian team, making their World Cup debut, showed flashes of brilliance throughout the tournament but lacked the experience to chase down such a formidable target against a world-class attack.

Super 8 Outlook

With this victory, the West Indies move into a high-stakes Super 8 group that includes India, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The team's balance, particularly the form of Shai Hope and the emergence of Shamar Joseph as a genuine strike bowler, makes them one of the favorites heading into the business end of the tournament.

The West Indies will remain in Kolkata to begin their Super 8 campaign, where they are expected to face a massive test against the host nation, India, this coming weekend. For Italy, the journey ends here, but their spirited performances, including an upset win earlier in the group stage, have earned them significant respect on the world stage.