West Indies headed into the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup unbeaten after successfully defending 165 against Italy at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on February 19, 2026. Captain Shai Hope top-scored with 75 off 46 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes, before Matthew Forde’s twin powerplay strikes and Shamar Joseph’s four-wicket haul sealed a 42-run victory. Italy were bowled out for 123 in 18 overs despite Ben Manenti scoring 26.
Forde dismissed both Justin Mosca and Syed Naqvi in the powerplay, helping restrict Italy to 37 for 3 in six overs, before Joseph bagged four wickets to go with his four catches. The win was West Indies’ fourth successive victory, sealed at the venue where they will face India in their final Super Eight fixture on March 1.
Match Summary
Italy won the toss and elected to bowl first at Eden Gardens. West Indies hit seven boundaries in the powerplay, all from Hope, who dominated the early exchanges with an array of off-side drives. Hope reached his 28-ball fifty and went on to score 75 off 46 before being bowled by Crishan Kalugamage. Italy’s spinners Ben Manenti and Crishan Kalugamage took two wickets each, stifling West Indies’ power-packed middle order, but Sherfane Rutherford and Matthew Forde provided a late 28-run burst off 14 balls to push the total to 165 for 6.
In the chase, Forde struck twice in the powerplay, bowling three overs on the bounce to dismiss both Mosca brothers and Naqvi for 37 for 3. Akeal Hosein removed Anthony Mosca for 19 off 18, before Joseph hit the deck hard with aggressive short-ball tactics to claim four wickets and hasten the end. Italy were bowled out for 123 in 18 overs, leaving West Indies unbeaten going into the Super Eights.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 165/6 | 20.0 | Won by 42 runs |
| Italy | 123 | 18.0 | All out |
Player of the Match: Shai Hope (75 off 46) Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Date: February 19, 2026 Toss: Italy won; elected to bowl West Indies Super Eights: Unbeaten; fourth successive win Italy’s campaign: Exited with one win against Nepal
First Innings: West Indies’ Batting (165/6 in 20 Overs)
Hope Dominates Early — All Seven Powerplay Boundaries
After Italy won the toss and asked West Indies to bat first, Hope hit seven boundaries in the powerplay and was responsible for all of those. He dominated the early exchanges with an array of off-side drives.
Hope’s Back-to-Back Half-Centuries
Hope hit back-to-back half-centuries and reached his 28-ball fifty before going on to score 75 off 46 balls. Hope used his feet well to counter a disciplined bowling performance. He was the only West Indies batter who found consistency, scoring 75 with six fours and four sixes.
Italy Fight Back — Middle-Order Stifled
Italy stifled West Indies’ power-packed middle order. At one point, West Indies were on track for 200 on the pitch, especially when Hope was on song. They were 90 for 2 in 12 overs, but Italy let West Indies’ power-packed middle order score only 75 in the last eight overs of their innings.
Rovman Powell was trapped by Ben Manenti in the 15th over. In the next over, Hope was clean bowled by Crishan Kalugamage after he went for a slog sweep but missed it completely. Jason Holder could not continue his momentum, dismissed for just 9 off 7 balls caught at long-on by Harry Manenti off Kalugamage.
Late Burst — Rutherford and Forde Add 28 Off 14
Sherfane Rutherford scored 24 off 15 balls, while Matthew Forde made 16 off 8 balls, as the duo provided a good finish with a 28-run partnership that came off just 14 balls.
West Indies Batting Performance
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | 4 | — | Fell early; Ali Hasan induced faint edge |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 1 | — | Failed to make impact |
| Shai Hope (c & wk) | 75 | 46 | Six fours, four sixes; all seven powerplay boundaries; 28-ball fifty; used feet well; dominated early with off-side drives; bowled by Kalugamage (slog sweep, missed completely) |
| Roston Chase | 24 | 25 | Steady support; cautious innings hampered scoring rate |
| Rovman Powell | — | — | Trapped by B Manenti (15th over) |
| Jason Holder | 9 | 7 | Caught long-on by H Manenti off Kalugamage |
| Sherfane Rutherford | 24* | 15 | One six, two fours; late burst |
| Matthew Forde | 16* | 8 | Three boundaries; 28 off 14 with Rutherford |
Powerplay: 7 boundaries (all from Hope) 90 for 2 after 12 overs: On track for 200 Last 8 overs: Only 75 runs (Italy stifled middle order)
Italy Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crishan Kalugamage | 25 | 2 | Hope (bowled, slog sweep missed); Holder (caught long-on H Manenti) |
| Ben Manenti | 37 | 2 | Powell (trapped) |
| Ali Hasan | — | 1 | King (faint edge) |
| Thomas Jack Draca | — | 1 | — |
Second Innings: Italy’s Chase (123 All Out in 18 Overs)
Forde’s Twin Powerplay Strikes — 37 for 3
Matthew Forde’s twin strikes in the powerplay decisively tilted the game in West Indies’ favour. Bowling three overs on the bounce, Forde dismissed both Justin Mosca and No. 3 Syed Naqvi, helping West Indies restrict Italy to 37 for 3 in six overs.
Forde had the right-handed Mosca brother hopping to the inswinger. After Anthony got off strike, the left-handed Mosca brother also had to contend with the ball coming into him. Justin couldn’t and his stumps paid the price — the LED bails were damaged. Forde then removed Naqvi with a hard-length delivery that hit the splice of his bat and had him miscuing a catch to mid-off.
Akeal Hosein removed Anthony Mosca for 19 off 18 balls, changing his length, dragging it back and messing with the sweep to pop a catch to short fine leg. Joseph took the catch — his first of four.
Joseph’s Four-Wicket Haul — Aggressive Short-Ball Tactics
Shamar Joseph bagged four wickets to go with his four catches as Italy were bowled out for 123. Joseph hit the deck harder than Forde and generated more extra bounce to discomfit Italy’s batters.
When Grant Stewart fell to a near yorker from Joseph for 12 off seven balls, Italy were 103 for 6 in the 15th over. Joseph marginally missed his yorker, but it was still a hard-to-hit delivery.
Joseph became the first-ever cricketer to claim four wickets and also take four catches in the same T20 innings. He removed Harry Manenti caught behind for 8 off 10 balls, helping after West Indies close out their game. Joseph bangs it away on a heavy length as Italy struggled at 57 for 4 in nine overs.
In the final over, Joseph induced a thin outside edge from Ali Hasan as Hope completed the catch behind the stumps. Earlier in the over, Joseph had removed Thomas Draca with a full toss that was checked and deemed legal (10cm under waist height) before Roston Chase pouched it at backward point.
Italy Batting Performance
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Mosca | — | — | Left-handed; bowled by Forde inducker (LED bails damaged); couldn’t handle ball coming in |
| Anthony Mosca | 19 | 18 | Removed by Hosein; popped catch to short fine leg (Joseph) after sweep messed up |
| Syed Naqvi (No. 3) | — | — | Hard-length delivery hit splice; miscued catch to mid-off off Forde |
| JJ Smuts | 24 | — | Brief resistance |
| Ben Manenti | 26 | 21 | Only Italy batter to pass 25; 1 six, 2 fours |
| Harry Manenti (c) | 8 | 10 | Caught behind off Joseph |
| Grant Stewart | 12 | 7 | Near yorker from Joseph (15th over); Italy 103/6 |
| Thomas Draca | 5 | 3 | Full toss (10cm under waist, legal); caught backward point Chase off Joseph |
| Ali Hasan | — | — | Thin edge behind to Hope off Joseph (final over) |
| Gian-Piero Meade | 4 | 8 | Slapped straight to cover point off Forde |
Powerplay: 37/3 57 for 4 after 9 overs 103 for 6 in 15th over
West Indies Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Forde | 19 | 3 | Twin powerplay strikes; bowled three overs on bounce; J Mosca (inducker, LED bails damaged), Naqvi (hard-length, splice, miscue to mid-off), Meade (slapped to cover point); swings new ball both ways |
| Shamar Joseph | 30 | 4 | Four wickets + four catches (first-ever in same T20 innings); hit deck harder than Forde; extra bounce; H Manenti (caught behind), Stewart (near yorker, 103/6), Draca (full toss legal, caught backward point), Ali Hasan (thin edge); aggressive short-ball tactics |
| Gudakesh Motie | 24 | 2 | Tightened screws through middle overs; removed key batters |
| Akeal Hosein | — | 1 | A Mosca (changed length, messed with sweep, popped to short fine leg Joseph) |
Match-Winning Performances
Shai Hope — Player of the Match
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Batting | 75 off 46 balls |
| Boundaries | Six fours, four sixes |
| Powerplay | All seven boundaries |
| Fifty | 28 balls |
| Impact | Dominated early exchanges with off-side drives; used feet well; back-to-back half-centuries |
| Dismissal | Bowled by Kalugamage (slog sweep, missed completely) |
| Post-match | “I always try to contribute. Wicket was a good one, felt like I could’ve given the team more impetus at the death” |
Matthew Forde
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bowling | 3 for 19 in 4 overs |
| Powerplay | Twin strikes bowling three overs on bounce; J Mosca (inducker, LED bails damaged), Naqvi (hard-length to splice, miscue) |
| Batting | 16* off 8 balls (three boundaries); 28-run stand with Rutherford off 14 balls |
| Skills | Swings new ball both ways; hits deck and splice-jarring lengths |
| CPL connection | Works with Daren Sammy at St Lucia Kings |
Shamar Joseph
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bowling | 4 for 30 in 4 overs |
| Catches | Four (first-ever to claim 4 wickets + 4 catches in same T20 innings) |
| Key wickets | H Manenti (caught behind), Stewart (near yorker, 103/6), Draca (legal full toss, caught), Ali Hasan (thin edge) |
| Impact | Hit deck harder than Forde; extra bounce; aggressive short-ball tactics; hastened end for Italy |
| Context | Might not have been in side if Alzarri Joseph was fit; T20 not his strongest format |
Read More: T20 World Cup 2026: Shivam Dube Propel India to 12th Consecutive T20 WC Win
