West Indies vs Italy, 37th Match, Group C, ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Commentary

West Indies enter the Super Eights with a clean slate. Can they go all the way and clinch a third T20 WC title? On form, they do look good. Italy go back home with plenty of happy memories and will now look to build on this platform. Sri Lanka are batting first as we turn our attention to Colombo. Switch tabs and enjoy all the action. For now, cheers and bye..

Shai Hope | West Indies Captain - Like I said previously, I thought that the pitch was pretty decent. I thought we should have got a bit more on the board, especially looking at how the other wickets played, especially in the first couple of overs. I also said before, it's a bit different when you've got a few up from there. And in that situation there, I just felt as though we could have put a bit more impetus into the innings, especially with the field. We've got to ensure that if we have to face that situation again, that we're going to play the best to be a bit more forceful. But when crunch time comes, let's ensure that you capitalise on those deliveries. They're very good (on the bowlers). It's just executing really well, not just in this tournament, but even from a few series ago. We're just taking the strides where we need to. I just feel as though the confidence and clarity that we're finding in our bowlers gives us a lot more, I guess, clearer execution. And in this situation here, it's just about doing it over and over, all the way through until we get as far as we can get. I always look at the present, you know, those things where we pass. Yes, we've got to look at it and use those experiences to gain that momentum that we're looking for. But again, this is T20 play. You've got to bring your best, your best on your game in a tournament, especially like this, the cricket World Cup. So I just expect to see the guys coming out this time, you know, give me their best and execute the way that they need to. Yes, it's a fine margin. Yes, we know we have that depth (in batting), but still some balance marks need to be applied, especially when you're coming against opposition that is international cricket. Anyone can get you on the day. You've got to still be clinical and ruthless with the way you go about your stroke play. So as much depth as we have, we've got to keep finishing. Four and four is a result, you want to be the next stage again. So let's just take it one day at a time. Let's see if he goes through (on the 100% record)

Harry Manenti | Italy Captain - I'm really happy with our first few performances with the ball. We all know the power they possess and to let them on a good wicket with a short side to 166, we're really happy. That definitely set us back today and similar to England game (on losing wickets in the batting PP). We just kept losing wickets in crucial times there today. Didn't quite get a partnership going that was enough to win a game for you today. I'm really proud of the whole group. There's been different stages in the tournament where the boys have been able to stand up and show their skill sets. Krish was another example today with his leg spin, took a nice catch out in the boundary, got his team and then came on and took a wicket next ball. So, you know, great stories like that. I'm proud of us as a captain and there's other boys who have stepped up at really good times and shown the world what they can do. I think our ability to stay in a fight for a long period of time, especially when good cricketers and good players like England and West Indies are able to take a few boundaries down and build some real momentum and for us to bring it back at certain stages in those last two games have been exciting for us. We probably haven't nailed a full game of cricket yet, which, you know, yes, we were good in the ball, we could have been slightly better. We were good against England, we could have been a lot better and again today we showed some signs, especially with the ball. We just didn't nail it in the bat today, unfortunately. I think it's important for all associate nations to be, you know, funded and well looked after from the top. It's not always easy, and there's obviously portions of money that need to go everywhere, but I think from an Italian group point of view, if we can continue to get cricket support from ICC and the other bigger nations, and then those sort of middle tier nations to have a sort of and get playing more cricket, when we come to these events, hopefully we'll be even more competitive and be able to, we just probably lack that little bit of polish at the moment where lack of games has hurt us, and I think the more cricket we play together, the more chance we are of completing these games today and knocking over a big nation like West Indies or England.

Shai Hope | Player of the Match - With the way I see it, I always think about myself trying to contribute as much as I can. As long as I'm scoring runs, I've contributed to the team in some way. Today, I thought we were good. I just wanted to balance it a bit more, give the team a bit more in the second half of the game. But I still have to believe that I contributed to the team with this. The honest reality is that when you face an opposition that you're unfamiliar with, you have to have a plan in case you get something wrong. But I'm still a bit unsure what some of the guys are going to do. I thought they bowled really well, it wasn't as easy to score easily at the beginning of the game. I just felt that we need to be a bit more ruthless with the batting in the first six overs to get a bit more pressure. But I still have to believe that I contributed to the team with this.

Four straight wins makes it West Indies’ joint-longest winning streak in T20 World Cups, alongside as many in 2024.

Most sixes at T20 WC 2026 so far (Balls/six)
40 - India (12)
36 - England (12.9)
36 - West Indies (12.6)
34 - Italy (11.9)
33 - USA (14.6)

Most catches in a T20 WC match (non-wicketkeepers)
4 - Daren Sammy (WI) vs IRE, Providence, 2010
4 - Aiden Markram (SA) vs BAN, New York, 2024
4 - Glenn Maxwell (AUS) vs NAM, North Sound, 2024
4 - George Munsey (SCOT) vs ITA, Kolkata, 2026
4 - Shamar Joseph (WI) vs ITA, Kolkata, 2026

Shamar Joseph becomes the first cricketer to bag four wickets and four catches in a T20I - Men’s or Women’s.

14:29 Local Time, 08:59 GMT, 14:29 IST: Disappointed faces in he Italy camp. They'd have backed themselves to chase down 166, but the batters failed to come into grips on a slightly two-paced surface. They needed a big starty, but Justin Mosca fell cheaply. Anthony, his brother, promised a bit with two sixes off Akeal Hosein, but the bowler had the last laugh. A couple of starts for both JJ Smuts and Ben Manenti, but they needed someone to push on and bat deep. Wickets kept falling with West Indies taking their chances. Four wickets for Shamar and three for Matthew Forde as West Indies bowl out their opposition for the 3rd time in 4 matches. This is also the 2nd lowest ever score defended by a batting team in T20Is at this venue. Italy impressed one and all in their maiden T20 WC and will go back home with plenty of positive memories. Presentations coming up shortly..

Shamar Joseph to Ali Hasan, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Shamar Joseph to Thomas Draca, THATS OUT!! Caught!!