Kolkata, India — The West Indies sent a chilling message to the rest of the world on Thursday, dismantling a spirited Italian side by 42 runs at the iconic Eden Gardens. With this victory, Skyexchange Login the Men in Maroon finish the group stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 with a flawless 4-0 record, topping Group C and carrying massive momentum into the Super Eights.

The Hope Show: Captain Leads from the Front

After Italy won the toss and elected to the field, the West Indies found themselves in a spot of bother early. Prolific opener Brandon King (4) and the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer (1) fell cheaply, leaving the Windies at a crossroads.

Enter Captain Shai Hope.

Playing with a blend of classic elegance and T20 brutality, Hope anchored the innings with a magnificent 75 off 46 balls . His knock, decorated with six boundaries and four towering sixes, was the spine of the Caribbean total. While Roston Chase (24) and Rovman Powell (9) struggled to find their timing on a pitch that offered some grip for the spinners, Hope's second consecutive half-century ensured the West Indies reached a defensible 165/6 .

Italian spinners Ben Manenti (2/37) and Crishan Kalugamage (2/25) deserve credit for keeping the score from exploding, but the target of 166 always felt like a steep mountain for the debutants against a world-class bowling attack.

Joseph and Forde: A Masterclass in Pace

Italy's chase started with aggressive intent, but the West Indies' pace battery quickly extinguished any hopes of an upset. Matthew Forde set the tone in the powerplay, removing Justin Mosca and Syed Naqvi with a display of disciplined, probing lengths to finish with figures of 3/19 .

However, the day belonged to the "smiling assassin," Shamar Joseph . Joseph produced one of the most complete individual performances in T20 World Cup history. Not only did he rip through the Italian middle order to claim 4/30 , but he also showcased incredible athleticism in the field, taking four catches to account for nearly half the Italian wickets himself.

Italy was eventually bundled out for 123 in 18 overs , with Ben Manenti's 26 being the only notable resistance in a scorecard that saw wickets fall in clusters.

Italy's Maiden Campaign Ends with Pride

While they were outclassed today, the Italian national team leaves the 2026 World Cup with their heads held high. In their debut tournament, they recorded a historic win against Nepal and pushed major nations like England to the brink. Captain Harry Manenti noted post-match that while they missed opportunities, the experience gained against full members like the West Indies is invaluable for the growth of Italian cricket.

What's next for the Windies?

The West Indies now move into the Super Eight stage as the team to beat. They have been slotted into Group 1 , setting up some mouth-watering clashes:

• Feb 23: vs Zimbabwe (Mumbai)

• Feb 26: vs South Africa (Ahmedabad)

• Mar 1: vs India (Kolkata)

If Shai Hope continues his red-hot form and the pace duo of Joseph and Forde remains this clinical, a third T20 World Cup title might just be heading back to the Caribbean.

Match Summary:

• West Indies: 165/6 (20 overs) - Shai Hope 75, Crishan Kalugamage 2/25

• Italy: 123 all out (18 overs) - Ben Manenti 26, Shamar Joseph 4/30, Matthew Forde 3/19

• Result: West Indies won by 42 runs.

• Player of the Match: Shai Hope (WI)