The West Indies Cricket Team Vs Italy National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the 37th Match of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 tells the story of Caribbean class meeting European resilience and class winning decisively. Played on February 19, 2026, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, West Indies completed a commanding 42-run victory over Italy to finish the Group C stage unbeaten in four matches.
The match turned on Shai Hope’s masterful 75 off 46 balls a captain’s knock that singlehandedly held the West Indian innings together. When it came to defending 165, pace duo Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph were relentless, with Joseph achieving a remarkable T20I first: four wickets AND four catches in the same innings. This West Indies Cricket Team Vs Italy National Cricket Team encounter was more than a group stage formality it was a statement of intent from a side marching into the Super Eight stage with momentum and confidence.
Match Summary Table
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 165 | 6 | 20.0 | Won by 42 Runs |
| Italy | 123 | 10 | 18.0 | Lost |
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Date: February 19, 2026
Format: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group C, Match 37
Toss: Italy won the toss and elected to field first
Player of the Match: Shai Hope (WI) 75 (46) & 2 catches
Italy’s decision to bowl first seemed shrewd early on, as their spinners kept the West Indian middle order in check. But Hope’s dominance at the top of the order made Italy’s bowling look modest. In the chase, West Indies’ disciplined attack took three wickets in the powerplay and never looked back. Italy reached 78/5 at one stage but couldn’t build the partnerships needed to threaten a 166-run target.
Batting Highlights
West Indies Innings (165/6 in 20 overs)
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 | c Meade b Hasan |
| Shai Hope (c/wk) | 75 | 46 | 6 | 4 | 163.04 | b Kalugamage |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 | c Smuts b Draca |
| Roston Chase | 24 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 96.00 | c A Mosca b B Manenti |
| Rovman Powell | 9 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 | c Kalugamage b B Manenti |
| Sherfane Rutherford | 24 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 160.00 | Not Out |
| Jason Holder | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 128.57 | c H Manenti b Kalugamage |
| Matthew Forde | 16 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 200.00 | Not Out |
| Extras | 3 | – | – | – | – | (3w) |
| Total | 165 | 120 | 13 | 7 | 8.25 | 6 wickets, 20 overs |
Did Not Bat: Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
Fall of Wickets: 5-1 (King, 1.1 ov) | 31-2 (Hetmyer, 4.1 ov) | 95-3 (Chase, 12.3 ov) | 113-4 (Powell, 14.4 ov) | 115-5 (Hope, 15.1 ov) | 137-6 (Holder, 17.4 ov)
This innings was essentially the Shai Hope show. He accounted for every West Indian boundary in the first ten overs, stroking 46 of his 75 runs to the off side with crisp, precise placement. The West Indies were 84/2 after 11 overs with Hope on 62 already in total control. However, the departure of Hope for 75 (bowled by Kalugamage) triggered a wobble as WI slumped from 115/4 to 137/6. Rutherford (24 off 15) and Forde (16 off 8) launched a late counter-attack in the final three overs, adding 28 crucial runs to bring the total to a competitive 165.
Italy Innings (123/10 in 18 overs)
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Mosca | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 | b Forde |
| Anthony Mosca | 19 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 158.33 | c Joseph b Hosein |
| Syed Naqvi | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 | c Joseph b Forde |
| JJ Smuts | 24 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 88.89 | c Joseph b Motie |
| Harry Manenti (c) | 19 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 118.75 | c Joseph b Joseph |
| Ben Manenti | 26 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 123.81 | b Motie |
| Grant Stewart | 12 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 | c Forde b Joseph |
| Gian-Piero Meade (wk) | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c Joseph b Forde |
| Crishan Kalugamage | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 | Not Out |
| Thomas Draca | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Chase b Joseph |
| Ali Hasan | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Hope b Joseph |
| Extras | 9 | – | – | – | – | (9w, lb) |
| Total | 123 | 108 | 9 | 3 | 6.83 | All Out, 18 overs |
Fall of Wickets: 12-1 (J Mosca, 1.5 ov) | 26-2 (A Mosca, 2.6 ov) | 37-3 (Naqvi, 5.5 ov) | 57-4 (H Manenti, 8.5 ov) | 78-5 (Smuts, 11.6 ov) | 103-6 (Stewart, 14.5 ov) | 115-7 (B Manenti, 15.6 ov) | 115-8 (Meade, 16.4 ov) | 123-9 (Draca, 17.4 ov) | 123-10 (Hasan, 17.6 ov)
Italy’s reply was undermined by a torrid powerplay where they lost three wickets for 37 runs. Anthony Mosca offered brief fireworks with 19 off 12, but Forde’s nip-backers and Hosein’s slower variations ended the Mosca threat. The Smuts-H Manenti partnership offered fleeting hope, but once Motie dismissed both Smuts and Ben Manenti in quick succession, the chase unravelled completely. The last five wickets fell for just 45 runs across 6 overs.
Bowling Figures
Italy Bowling (West Indies Innings)
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JJ Smuts | 4 | 27 | 0 | 6.75 | 0 |
| Ali Hasan | 3 | 24 | 1 | 8.00 | 0 |
| Thomas Draca | 2 | 22 | 1 | 11.00 | 0 |
| Grant Stewart | 3 | 30 | 0 | 10.00 | 0 |
| Ben Manenti | 4 | 37 | 2 | 9.25 | 0 |
| Crishan Kalugamage | 4 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 | 0 |
Italy’s bowling was their bright spot on the day. Kalugamage (2/25) was the pick of the attack, keeping his leg-spin tight and claiming the prize wicket of Hope. Ben Manenti (2/37) was effective in the middle overs, removing the dangerous Chase and Powell. The pairing of Smuts and Kalugamage kept the West Indian middle order frustrated, conceding just 52 from 8 overs (overs 4–11). Italy’s failure was that no bowler could sustain the pressure deep into the death overs.
West Indies Bowling (Italy Innings)
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Forde | 4 | 19 | 3 | 4.75 |
| Akeal Hosein | 3 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Jason Holder | 3 | 19 | 0 | 6.33 |
| Gudakesh Motie | 4 | 24 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Shamar Joseph | 4 | 30 | 4 | 7.50 |
Forde was sensational in the powerplay, returning figures of 3/19 from 4 overs clinical seam bowling that dismantled Italy’s top order. Motie (2/24) strangled the middle partnership by removing both Smuts and Ben Manenti. Joseph’s 4/30 was historic four wickets and four catches in the same T20I innings is something no player has ever done before. His athleticism and pace in the death overs made a West Indies total that skipper Hope himself acknowledged was “par at best” feel like a fortress.
Key Moments & Tactical Analysis
Toss Impact: Italy’s decision to field first seemed tactically sound Eden Gardens at 11am offers early seam movement, and Italy’s bowlers exploited it to remove King cheaply. However, the pitch flattened out quickly, and Hope’s positioning and footwork neutralised most deliveries.
Powerplay Momentum (WI batting): West Indies reached 48/2 in 6 overs. Despite two wickets, Shai Hope (39* off 21 at drinks) was already in crushing form generating all seven boundaries of the powerplay by himself.
Powerplay Momentum (Italy batting): Italy’s reply started catastrophically at 37/3 in 6 overs. Forde’s nip-backer to Justin Mosca (1.5 ov) set the tone, and Hosein’s change-up to deceive Anthony Mosca was the decisive moment. Three wickets in the six-over powerplay effectively ended Italy’s competitive chances.
The Hope Dismissal – Turning Point: At 115/5 after 15.1 overs, with WI still in firm control, Kalugamage bowled Hope for 75 with a sharply turning leg-break. It sparked a mini-collapse that limited WI to 165 rather than 185+. Yet this turned out to be enough.
Captaincy Decisions: Shai Hope’s bowling rotation was intelligent. He used Forde in three consecutive overs in the powerplay to maximise the seam advantage. Using Motie and Hosein in tandem through the middle overs (overs 7–15) created pressure from both ends, making it very hard for Italy’s partnerships to flourish.
Pitch & Conditions: Eden Gardens played true for much of the day. The toss mattered, but batting second on a good surface against a disciplined attack proved too tall an order for Italy. Spinners from both sides were effective in the 7–15 over window, suggesting some purchase in the surface as the game progressed.
Key Stats Table
| Metric | West Indies | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Total Runs | 165/6 (20 ov) | 123/10 (18 ov) |
| Run Rate | 8.25 | 6.83 |
| Extras | 3 (3w) | 9 (wides + leg-byes) |
| Boundaries (4s) | 13 | 9 |
| Sixes (6s) | 7 | 3 |
| Powerplay Score | 48/2 | 37/3 |
| Highest Partnership | 3rd wkt: 64 (Hope & Chase) | 5th wkt: 21 (Smuts & H Manenti) |
| Player of the Match | Shai Hope (75 off 46, 2 catches) | N/A |
Disclaimer: The match details (West Indies vs Italy, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026) are based on publicly available real-time or historical sources. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, cricket scorecards can occasionally contain minor discrepancies due to official updates, scoring corrections, or data transmission delays.
West Indies’ 7 sixes to Italy’s 3 underlines the gulf in power-hitting ability. The high extras count for Italy (9 wides) was a recurring issue in a tight chase, those extras cost Italy valuable wickets and momentum. Crucially, West Indies’ powerplay score of 48/2 may look like a slow start, but Hope’s presence in the middle meant the run-rate was always under control. Italy’s powerplay collapse of 37/3 ended the game as a genuine contest.
Head-to-Head Analysis
| Category | West Indies | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| T20I Matches Played (vs each other) | 2 | 2 |
| West Indies Wins | 2 | 0 |
| Italy Wins | 0 | 0 |
| Total Runs Scored | 330 | 214 |
| Win % | 100% | 0% |
West Indies leads the head-to-head record 2–0 against Italy in T20 Internationals. Both encounters have come at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In their first meeting (Group Stage), West Indies won convincingly, and this second encounter the West Indies Cricket Team Vs Italy National Cricket Team Group C finale produced an even more commanding result. Italy have never beaten West Indies in any format of international cricket, though their improved batting and bowling performances in this World Cup indicate Italy cricket is genuinely developing.
Historical Rivalry
West Indies and Italy have virtually no historical cricket rivalry given Italy’s recent elevation to the global T20 stage. Italy only qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as part of associate cricket’s expansion, and these two Group C encounters represent the entirety of their international head-to-head story.
West Indies, two-time T20 World Cup champions (2012 and 2016), are one of the most decorated T20 nations in history. Italy, by contrast, are a relatively new force built largely on diaspora talent from the Caribbean and South Asia. The West Indies Cricket Team Vs Italy National Cricket Team narrative is, therefore, less a rivalry and more a snapshot of where cricket’s frontiers currently stand.
What is remarkable is that Italy pushed West Indies harder than expected in bowling terms. Their spinners Kalugamage and Ben Manenti caused genuine problems. For Italian cricket, this World Cup was a watershed moment. For West Indies, it was confirmation that they are among the title favourites.
Read Also: Scotland National Cricket Team Vs Italy National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Conclusion
The West Indies Cricket Team Vs Italy National Cricket Team Match Scorecard records a dominant 42-run victory that sealed West Indies’ place at the top of Group C with a perfect 4-win-from-4 record. Hope’s 75 was a masterclass in calm, measured aggression his 11th T20I fifty is now a statement of form ahead of the Super Eight stage. Italy, for their part, exit the tournament with their heads held high a historic 10-wicket win over Nepal ensured they didn’t leave India empty-handed.
For West Indies, this win was about more than just the result. Forde’s powerplay precision, Motie’s middle-over control, and Joseph’s all-round brilliance confirm they have depth in every department. They now enter the Super Eight, with a date against India on March 1 at Eden Gardens, as arguably the tournament’s most balanced team.
? FAQs
What was the final score?
West Indies scored 165/6 in 20 overs. Italy were bowled out for 123 in 18 overs. West Indies won by 42 runs.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Shai Hope (West Indies) 75 off 46 balls and 2 catches behind the stumps.
Who scored the most runs?
Shai Hope (WI) with 75 off 46 balls was the top scorer. For Italy, Ben Manenti top-scored with 26 off 21 balls.
Who took the most wickets?
Shamar Joseph (WI) took 4 wickets for 30 runs. He also took 4 catches a T20I first. Matthew Forde took 3/19.
What was the turning point?
Matthew Forde’s twin strikes in the powerplay dismissing Justin Mosca and Syed Naqvi left Italy at 37/3 after 6 overs, making an already stiff target virtually impossible.
