🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 M37: ITA vs WI at Kolkata🏏 - Page 2

Originally posted by: WildestDreams

Hello guys,

3 matches for today 19th Feb. First match in this tread at 11 AM IST ITA vs WI

2nd match SL vs ZIM at 3.00 PM IST https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/cricket/5381030/icc-mens-t20-world-cup-2026-m38-sl-vs-zim-at-colombo

3rd match AFG cs CAN at 7 PM IST https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/cricket/5381031/icc-mens-t20-world-cup-2026-m39-afg-vs-can-at-chennai

Have a nice day!✨

Thanks for the tags, Wildy!!!

Italy has left quite an impression on the tournament, but can they now leave on a winning note? At 27, they entered the World Cup as the lowest ranked team, stumbled against Scotland in their group opener, secured their first win by beating Nepal and then have England and almighty scare in the last game. Armed with players who have experience in England and Australia, they haven't looked like a team playing in their first-ever World Cup, but the lack of cutting edge has proved to be a dampener. Today, they'll window up their tournament with a match against group topper, West Indies. This set of men from the Caribbean haven't been anything like the previous teams - they do have raw power up their sleeves, but they've also played like complete professionals. Only India and South Africa have a 100% record in this tournament and they'll play both these teams in the Super-8. While this match has no real consequence tournament wise, they would love to get to the next round with a clean slate. The final league match at the Eden Gardens and it should prove to be spectacle.

Italy have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

Italy (Playing XI): Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, Syed Naqvi, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti(c), Ben Manenti, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade(w), Crishan Kalugamage, Thomas Draca, Ali Hasan

West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph

Shai Hope: Well, it’s not my decision though, but yeah, we have to set it this time around with the bat. The process is still in place. It’s important for us to make sure we don’t change that mindset that we want to put out there and the brand of cricket we play. Make sure, you know, final changes, any little activity that we want to do as a team - it’s really about playing the cricket we want to play going into this phase. No changes.

Harry Manenti: We’re going to have a bowl today. We get caught - there’s a touch in the wicket early, hopefully this morning and give ourselves the best crack to try and swing a few up front and take some early wickets. We take some confidence out of our last game against England, I think, against a really strong side. Obviously, we play West Indies today, who are another really powerful team and have had success in this format for a long time. So we look forward to the challenge and hopefully we can step it up and really compete with them today. It’s obviously a focus point ever since Scotland, to try and take wickets in that front half of the game and try and conserve as well, like we did in Nepal. So if we can do that today, hopefully it’s a good step towards having a successful game and winning. Two changes for us. We bring Thomas Draca back in for Jaspreet Singh, and Syed Naqvi plays his first game of the tournament for Marcus Campopiano. I think it’s a great opportunity for guys to get some exposure in a World Cup. Some new faces, some new energy. Everyone gets a bit of a crack here and hopefully they show themselves on the world stage.

Pitch and conditions:

Closer to the western side of Eden Gardens today - 73 metres straight, 71 metres to the leg side, so a big hit leg side for the right-handers or off side for the left-handers, and just 59 metres to the off side for the right-handers when you’re standing at this end. It’s been an unforgiving venue for bowlers. A lot of sixes have been hit here. In fact, we’ve seen the fewest number of balls per six with these two teams as well - they’re the most efficient in terms of six-hitting. Italy have conceded over 200 twice in the games they’ve played here. They’ve bowled first, so look out for that. I look at the surface - the news doesn’t get any better for the bowlers. There’s a certain consistency about it. It’s quite firm, with a nice covering of grass. You look at the strike rates for the different lengths you can bowl. If you can bowl yorkers, that’s always handy on any surface. But that back-of-a-length area, going at just over a run a ball - if you can hit that consistently and use your variations well, you can achieve some level of success here. - Samuel Badree, Simon Doull.

Brandon King and Shai Hope are at the crease. Brandon King is on strike. JJ Smuts will open the attack

Out walk the West Indian openers - Hope and King. Italy will start with spin. JJ Smuts to bowl the first over of the match. Here we go!

Group C's final act - In the final Group C fixture, tournament debutants Italy take on two-time champions West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. While there is not much to gain for the Windies from this fixture, for the Azzurri, this is another chance to show their wares on the global stage and sign off with a statement performance.

Unbeaten and building momentum - With three wins from three, West Indies were the first team to secure a Super 8 berth. Shai Hope’s men will now look to maintain their perfect record and carry strong momentum into the next round, where fixtures against Zimbabwe, South Africa and India await them. Sherfane Rutherford and Shimron Hetmyer have done the bulk of the scoring so far. A major positive from the win over Nepal was skipper Shai Hope spending valuable time in the middle and registering a half-century, which should do his confidence a world of good. One slight concern has been the lack of runs from Brandon King at the top, and the Windies will hope he rediscovers his touch before the Super 8s begin. With the ball, Jason Holder has quite literally stood tall, leading the attack impressively, with Romario Shepherd providing solid support.

Shepherd missed the Nepal game due to a niggle, and given this is a dead rubber, the management may err on the side of caution and keep him fresh for the Super 8 stage. In the spin department, Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie have complemented each other well, while Roston Chase has quietly contributed with the ball, adding balance to a well-rounded bowling unit.

From nerves to belief - Italy's World Cup debut against Scotland could perhaps be put down to nerves, as they were unable to fully showcase their potential on the big stage. However, the two matches since have painted a far more encouraging picture. They registered a thumping win over Nepal and then gave England a genuine scare in a spirited chase, eventually falling short. It was their death bowling and ground fielding that let them down in that contest, and had they been sharper in those areas, the result might have been different.

Benjamin Manenti's Big Bash League experience has clearly come to the fore, with the all-rounder making his presence felt with both bat and ball. The loss of skipper Wayne Madsen has hampered their campaign, particularly in the batting department, but the side has been led admirably by Harry Manenti, even if he will be personally disappointed not to have contributed more with the bat.

The Mosca brothers, Justin and Anthony, were among the stars of that memorable first World Cup win, though they have struggled to replicate that impact in the games around it at the top of the order. With the ball, it has largely been a collective effort.

Leg spinner Crishan Kalugamage, along with Manenti and JJ Smuts, have excelled in the spin department, while Ali Hasan and Grant Stewart have delivered useful spells in patches.

Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first)

West Indies - WWWWL

Italy - LWLLWL.

A pillar of West Indies cricket - A massive moment as Jason Holder joins the elite club of 300 international caps. Shimron Hetmyer presents Jason Holder with a commemorative cap and a 300 printed jersey to mark the veteran's milestone 300th international appearance.

Momentum key for the team - The skipper of West Indies, Shai Hope says that the toss is not in their control, but they will need to set the tone with the bat. Adds that even with the qualification, the process does not change. Hope mentions that they want to continue playing a good brand of cricket and go into the next round with momentum on their side. Informs that they are unchanged.

Great opportunity to express themselves - The captain of Italy, Harry Manenti believes that there will be a bit in the wicket and they want to have a crack with the ball early on. He mentions that the side will take confidence from their previous outing, but acknowledges that the West Indies are another powerful unit. Shares that their focus is on picking wickets in the first half of the game. Informs that they have made two changes, with Thomas Draca coming in for Jaspreet Singh. He further shares that Syed Naqvi also gets a game with Marcus Campopiano making way.

Ali Hasan to Brandon King, out Caught by Gian Meade!! The Italian players look at the replays on the giant screen and they are delighted. UltraEdge confirms an inside edge. Back of a length delivery around off and it shapes back in sharply. A slight inside edge, confirms the replays and that's a successful review by Italy. Ali Hasan strikes on his first ball of the match. That's a great start for Italy. Brandon King c Gian Meade b Ali Hasan 4(6)

Ali Hasan to Brandon King, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

WI--7/1 after 2 overs.