In an impressive display during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, the West Indies cricket team continued their strong performance by defeating Italy by 42 runs on February 19 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This match marked the West Indies' fourth consecutive victory in the tournament, showcasing their dominance. Italy’s team, participating for the first time in the T20 World Cup, displayed great spirit, especially in the early stages of the match, but ultimately could not withstand the experienced West Indies batting lineup.

Italy started the match on a high note, taking the wickets of Brandon King and Shimron Hetmyer during the powerplay, which momentarily put the West Indies on the back foot. However, captain Shai Hope stepped up with a resilient innings, scoring 75 runs off 46 balls to stabilize the team’s innings after regular wickets fell. Despite Italy's tight bowling from Christian Kalugamage and captain Ben Manenti, who took two wickets each, the West Indies managed to post a total of 165 runs, giving Italy a challenging target to chase.

Chasing the target of 165 runs, Italy began aggressively but struggled to maintain the momentum as they faced the formidable West Indies bowling attack. Italy's team, despite showing determination and promising initial performance, eventually succumbed to pressure and fell short of the target. This match not only highlighted the competitive spirit of the Italian team in their inaugural T20 World Cup but also underscored the prowess of the West Indies as they continue to excel in the tournament.