WI Vs ITA Highlights: WI hits ‘four’ of victory before Super-8, beats Italy by 42 runs; Hope played captaincy innings

WI vs ITA Highlights: In the group stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, West Indies maintained their momentum before the Super-8 and defeated Italy by 42 runs. In the match, Italy won the toss and decided to bowl first, but this decision cost them dearly. West Indies scored 165 runs at the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs and bowled out Italy for 123 runs.

West Indies’ batting: Hope’s responsible innings

West Indies may have had an ordinary start—Brandon King was out early—but captain Shai Hope took charge of the innings. He played an impressive inning of 75 runs in 46 balls, which included 6 fours and 4 sixes. Hope held one end and led the team to a competitive score.

Roston Chase (24) and Sherfane Rutherford (24 not out) made useful contributions in the middle order. In the last overs, Matthew Forde scored 16 runs in 8 balls and took the score beyond 160. Both balance and aggression were visible in West Indies’ batting.

Italy’s innings: struggle and pressure

Chasing the target of 165 runs, the Italian team kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Anthony Mosca (19) and Ben Manetti (26) hit some aggressive shots, but the partnership could not last long.

West Indies bowlers completely dominated Italy’s batting. Shamar Joseph (4 wickets) and Matthew Ford (3 wickets) picked up important wickets, while Gudakesh Moti (2 wickets) and Akil Hussain (1) kept the run rate in check and took wickets from time to time. Hence the entire Italian team was all out for 123 runs in 18 overs.

Discipline in bowling, edge in fielding

The basis of West Indies’ victory was their disciplined bowling. The fast bowlers created pressure with the new ball, while the spinners restricted the run rate in the middle overs. The fielding was also accurate, with important catches ending Italy’s hopes early on.

Increase in confidence before Super-8

With their fourth consecutive win, West Indies have strengthened their preparations before the Super-8. Captain Shai Hope’s top form is a positive sign for the team. Italy, on the other hand, need to work on consistency in their death over bowling and batting.

This victory was a morale boost for West Indies before the conclusion of the group stage. Now all eyes are on Super-8, where the real matches will begin. Let us tell you that the West Indies team will play its first Super-8 stage match against Zimbabwe on 23 February at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.