The "Men in Maroon" have officially sounded a warning to the rest of the world. In their final Group C encounter at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the West Indies dismantled tournament debutants Italy by 42 runs, completing a flawless 4-for-4 sweep of the group stages.

While Italy’s maiden World Cup journey came to an end, the Caribbean giants move into the Super 8s with an unbeaten record and the look of a team destined for a third T20 world title.

Hope Anchors a Shaky Start

Choosing to bat first after Italy won the toss, the West Indies found themselves in early trouble. Skyexchange Login The Italian bowlers, led by Ali Hasan and Crishan Kalugamage, made life difficult under the Kolkata sun. Openers Brandon King (4) and the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer (1) were sent back early, leaving the Windies reeling in the powerplay.

However, captain Shai Hope proved why he is the backbone of this batting lineup. While others struggled to find timing on a surface that offered grip for the spinners, Hope played a masterful innings. His 75 off 46 balls (including 6 boundaries and 4 towering sixes) was the difference-maker.

With supporting cameos from Roston Chase (24) and Sherfane Rutherford (24*), the West Indies clawed their way to a competitive 165/6.

The Italian Resistance

Italy, who had already won hearts earlier in the tournament with a historic 10-wicket win over Nepal, didn't go down without a fight. Anthony Mosca briefly threatened to flip the script when he launched Akeal Hosein for two consecutive sixes early in the chase.

Ben Manenti (26) and JJ Smuts (24) tried to build a middle-order partnership, but the gap in experience eventually showed. The Italian batters struggled to handle the sheer pace and discipline of the West Indies' frontline attack.

Joseph and Forde: The Pace Juggernaut

If Shai Hope set the stage, the bowlers brought the curtain down. Matthew Forde was lethal at the top and the death, finishing with clinical figures of 3/19.

Then came the Shamar Joseph show. The Guyanese speedster was relentless, ripping through Italy’s middle and lower order. Joseph finished with a sensational 4/30 and also managed a rare feat by taking four catches in the field, earning him massive plaudits for his all-round athleticism.

Italy was eventually bundled out for 123 in 18 overs, falling 42 runs short of a miracle.

What’s Next for the Windies?

With this victory, the West Indies join India and South Africa as the only teams to finish the group stage with a 100% win record. Their path forward, however, is significantly steeper.

The Windies have been placed in Super 8 Group 1, a veritable "Group of Death" that features:

Key Super 8 Fixtures:

The Verdict

Italy exits the tournament with their heads held high, having proven they belong on the world stage. For the West Indies, the group stage was just the warm-up. If Shai Hope continues his red-hot form and the pace battery of Joseph and Forde remains this sharp, the Caribbean fans may well be celebrating a world title come March 8.

Match Summary:


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