The West Indies defeated Italy by 42 runs as they stepped into the Super Eight phase of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on a winning note at Eden Gardens in India.
Sent in to bat, Captain Shai Hope scored his second successive half-century in a somewhat underwhelming batting performance by the Windies, who were only able to gather 165 for 6 from their 20 overs.
Shamar Joseph, Matthew Forde, and Gudakesh Motie then shared nine wickets between them, as the Windies bowled out their opponents for 123 in 18 overs, to carry them to their fourth win in as many matches in Group C.
The Windies did not get off to the best start, as Brandon King was caught behind for just four in the second over by a delivery from Ali Hasan.
Shimron Hetmyer made just one run before edging Thomas Draca, where JJ Smuts took a catch to leave the Windies on 31 for 2 at the start of the fifth over.
Roston Chase, with 24 runs off 25 balls, formed a crucial partnership with Hope in adding 64 runs for the third wicket.
Hope brought up his second straight half-century off 28 balls with a single off Smuts.
Anthony Mosca caught Chase off Benjamin Maneti’s delivery inside the 13th over.
Rovman Powell then fell for nine, caught on the midwicket boundary, as the Windies slipped to 113 for 4 in the 15th over.
Player-of-the-Match Hope was bowled by Crishan Kalugamage two runs later for the top score of 75 off 46 balls, belting six fours and four sixes. At this stage, the West Indies were in a state of worry with the score at 115 for 5.
But Sherfane Rutherford, who scored an unbeaten 24 off 15 balls, and Matthew Forde, who struck 16 off 8 balls, helped them add 50 runs off the last five overs to get them up to a decent total.
Kalugamage took 2-25, while Manenti grabbed 2-37 for Italy.
In reply, Italy faced a reachable target but put on a disappointing batting performance, losing wickets regularly and falling behind in their chase.
Forde struck in his first over, the second of the innings, by bowling Justin Mosca for two and also bagged the wicket of Syed Naqvi for six, as Italy stumbled to 37 for 3 at the end of the Powerplay.
Captain Harry Manenti was caught by Hope off Joseph’s delivery, before JJ Smuts was caught by Joseph off Motie’s bowling to reduce Italy to 78 for five after 12 overs.
Joseph, who took four catches, then accounted for the wickets of Grant Stewart for 12, Thomas Draca for five, and the last man, Hasan, for a duck to end the contest.
He finished with figures of 4-39, Forde claimed 3-19, and Motie 2-24.
