New Delhi: West Indies continued their unbeaten run at the T20 World Cup 2026 with a 42-run win over Italy, entering the Super Eight stage as the group toppers from Group C. The two-time champions registered their fourth successive win of the ongoing marquee tournament against the debutants, who were hoping to sign off on a high.
Italy ended their campaign with three losses and one famous, 10-wicket win over Nepal last week.
WI rode on Shai Hope’s 46-ball 75, which proved decisive, as no other batter made a significant contribution to the team’s total of 165/6 in 20 overs. The skipper was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock.
A captain’s knock from Shai Hope set up West Indies’ win over Italy👌
He wins the @aramco POTM🏅
📝: https://t.co/9MoyQq2OnE pic.twitter.com/vVcciXpA72
— ICC (@ICC) February 19, 2026
In reply, Italy kept losing wickets at regular intervals as Shamar Joseph (4/30) and Matthew Forde (3/10) ran through the batting order, bundling the European minnows for 123 in 18 overs.
Hope plays a captain’s knock before Joseph, Forde run riot
Asked to bat first, West Indies posted a decent total courtesy of Hope, who hit six boundaries and four sixes. However, other top-order batters crumbled in the face of some disciplined bowling by Italy.
Sherfane Rutherford (24 off 15 balls) and Matthew Forde (16 off 8 balls) played useful late cameos and remained unbeaten.
Sri Lanka-born leg-spinner Crishan Kalugamage was the pick of the bowlers for Italy with excellent figures of 2/25 in four overs.
The West Indies are placed in Group 1 of the Super 8s alongside defending champions and co-hosts India, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Brief scores:
West Indies: 165/6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 75; Crishan Kalugamage 2/25, Ben Manenti 2/37).
Italy: 123 all out in 18 overs (Ben Manenti 26, JJ Smuts 24; Matthew Forde 3/19, Shamar Joseph 4/30).