The West Indies completed a perfect group stage campaign with a comprehensive 42-run victory over a spirited Italy at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on February 19, 2026. While the result was a foregone conclusion in terms of the standings, the match provided plenty of entertainment as the debutant Italians pushed the two-time champions to work hard for their fourth consecutive win. The victory was defined by a captain’s knock from Shai Hope and a historic, all-action fielding and bowling performance from the young speedster Shamar Joseph.
The match began with Italy’s captain Harry Manenti winning the toss and electing to field first, hoping to exploit any early moisture in the Kolkata air. The decision seemed inspired as Italy’s new-ball bowlers immediately found success. Brandon King was dismissed for just 5 runs in the second over, and the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer followed shortly after, falling for 1 run to a superb delivery from Thomas Draca (1/28). At 31/2 in the fifth over, the West Indies found themselves in a rare spot of bother.
However, captain Shai Hope stood firm and delivered a masterclass in counter-attacking cricket. Shai Hope anchored the innings with a brilliant 75 runs off 46 balls, smashing six boundaries and four towering sixes. He used his feet excellently to disrupt the rhythm of the Italian spinners, ensuring the run rate stayed healthy despite the regular loss of partners. He shared a crucial 64-run partnership with Roston Chase, who contributed a steady 24 runs off 25 balls before being caught off Ben Manenti.
Italy’s bowlers, led by the impressive Crishan Kalugamage, showed incredible resilience to prevent a massive total. Crishan Kalugamage was the pick of the attack, finishing with figures of 2 wickets for 25 runs, including the massive scalp of Shai Hope in the 16th over. This triggered a mini-collapse as Rovman Powell (9) and Jason Holder (9) fell in quick succession. A late flurry from Sherfane Rutherford (14) and an unbeaten 16* runs off 8 balls from Matthew Forde eventually helped the West Indies post a total of 165/6 in their 20 overs.
While 166 felt like a par score, Italy walked out with a clear plan to attack. They started aggressively, with Anthony Mosca launching two early sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking. Anthony Mosca scored a brisk 24 runs off 18 balls before being outfoxed by the left-arm spin of Akeal Hosein (1/24). His brother, Justin Mosca, contributed 12 runs but fell to Matthew Forde, who produced a disciplined spell to finish with 3 wickets for 19 runs.
The middle order of Italy fought hard, led by the experienced JJ Smuts and the hard-hitting Ben Manenti. JJ Smuts scored a gritty 22 runs off 24 balls, while Ben Manenti showcased his power with an entertaining 26 runs off 21 balls. However, they struggled to find boundaries consistently as the West Indies squeezed the run rate through Gudakesh Motie (2/24) and the relentless Shamar Joseph.
The match will be remembered for the extraordinary individual display of Shamar Joseph. In a rare feat, Shamar Joseph ended the match with 4 wickets for 22 runs and an incredible 4 catches in the field. He seemed to be everywhere, taking a stunning diving catch to dismiss Harry Manenti (8) and later cleaning up the tail with sheer pace. His ability to impact the game in both departments completely broke the back of Italy’s resistance.
Italy’s lower order was unable to keep up with the mounting required run rate, which climbed past 12 runs per over in the final stages. Grant Stewart provided some late excitement with a quick 12 runs, including a massive six, but he was soon caught by Jason Holder off the bowling of Joseph. The final wickets fell rapidly as Italy was eventually bowled out for 123 runs in the 18th over, falling 42 runs short of a historic upset.
Shai Hope was named Player of the Match for his decisive 75, which provided the backbone for the West Indian total. At the post-match ceremony, Shai Hope praised the Italian team for their competitive spirit throughout the group stage. Harry Manenti expressed his pride in his team's maiden World Cup journey, noting that the experience of playing at venues like Eden Gardens would be invaluable for the future of Italian cricket.
The West Indies now move on to the Super 8 stage as the top team from Group C, having navigated the first round without a single defeat. They look like a formidable unit, with their bowling attack firing and their middle order consistently finding ways to post winning totals. For Italy, the tournament ends with one win—a historic 10-wicket victory over Nepal—and the respect of the global cricketing community for their fearless approach.