West Indies end T20 World Cup group stage unbeaten after Italy victory
A match took place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata that, for some, marked the final chord of the tournament, while for others, it was just an intermediate stage before the big tests. The West Indies end T20 World Cup group stage unbeaten after Italy victory, for whom this game was an opportunity to leave with their heads held high. The final 42-run margin in favor of the Caribbean team reflects not only the difference in class, but also an interesting battle that featured both bright spots and unexpected declines.
West Indies end T20 World Cup group stage unbeaten after Italy victory: pace problems
Captain Shai Hope once again proved his outstanding form. His 75 runs from 46 balls were his second consecutive half-century. The beginning, however, was troubling: Brandon King was gone on the first ball of Ali Hasan’s second over, and Shimron Hetmyer, who had been scoring consistently up until then, unexpectedly went down in one run. The team found itself in a precarious 31-2 position.
Hope started the attack with a slashing shot through extra cover when Thomas Draka misjudged the length. Ali Hasan, trying to make amends, got three fours in a row and then a six. The spectators in the stands, accustomed to Italy’s recent near miss against England, sensed that this captain was determined. Hope passed the fifty-run mark in just 28 steps to the wicket, with four sixes and six fours.
But cricket is a doubles game, and a reliable partner is no less important than a dashing batsman. Roston Chase, who came in to carry the inning, was clearly struggling with pace. His 24 runs from 25 balls seemed out of place against his captain’s energetic play. It’s like trying to ride a racing bike, but with someone constantly pressing the brakes. The pace was lost, and Italian spinners Ben Manenti and Krishan Kalugamaghe skillfully stifled their opponents, preventing them from getting a run, and the result was not long in coming: Chase sent the ball into the hands of the fielder, and soon Hope himself fell.
The end of the innings was left to Sherfane Rutherford and Matthew Forde. Their quick play added the required 40 runs, bringing the score to 165/6. Could it have been more? It is an undeniable fact that Hope was clearly counting on a larger total. But for the support the lower batsmen received, the target seemed… curious. The West Indies end T20 World Cup group stage unbeaten after Italy victory, but remembering how the Italians chased England’s 202 runs, local fans must have shuddered: you never know.
West Indies end T20 World Cup group stage unbeaten after Italy victory: bowlers correct the situation
However, the West Indies bowlers, unlike some of their batsmen, didn’t tempt fate. Matthew Forde, who was surprisingly economical against Nepal, set the tone from his first serve. Justin Mosca, who opened the Italian innings, simply couldn’t understand how a ball that dived inside managed to knock his wicket out. Forde seemed to have found the right thread to pull: his in-duckers and sledge-deliveries cut down the top of the order one after another.
In the middle overs, Gudakesh Moti took over the baton. The left-handed spinner was cunning, forcing batsmen to make mistakes in their calculations. It was he who took off JJ Smuts, who had managed to score 24 and seemed the most stable in the Italian order, and then sent the invigorated Ben Manenti (26) to rest. At this point, there was probably a heavy silence in the Italian team. The two experienced players left for the locker room almost simultaneously, but the goal was still far away.
But the main hero of the evening was Shamar Joseph. His 4/30 is a statistic backed by smart tactics. He was clearly taken with the idea of using short balls. The Italians, still remembering their daring pursuit of the English, tried to respond blow for blow, but Joseph proved more cunning each time. Grant Stewart, who tried to pull the team back, fell victim to just such a play in the 15th over. It could be said that this moment finally cut off Italy’s oxygen supply. Stewart and Manenti had previously combined for 92 runs in 48 balls against England—but there was no such spark here.
West Indies end T20 World Cup group stage unbeaten after Italy victory. The team only beat Nepal — this is their small triumph that will remain in their memory. For the West Indies, it’s just the beginning. Four wins out of four, first place in Group C and a ticket to the Super 8.
“Four and four is a result that wanted to repeat at the next stage. Let’s move step by step,” Shai Hope remarked philosophically after the game. There was confidence in his voice. The team knows the real tests are yet to come. And if the spinners continue to strangle the opponents in this way and the captain continues to bat, the Caribbean flag could fly above the tournament table for a long time.
