West Indies defeated Italy by 42 runs in their final Twenty20 World Cup Group C match here on Thursday as the two-times champions registered third straight win to enter into Super Eights phase with a clean slate.
Captain Shai Hope scored his 11th T20 Internationals half-century, hitting a Man of the Match knock of 75 off 46 balls on either side of what was an industrious bowling effort.
Italy were soon reeling in their chase when a nip-backer from Matthew Forde pegged back Justin Mosca’s (2 off 5) stumps, before Akeal Hosein got one over Anthony Mosca – after being struck for two sixes – outfoxing the opener with a slower ball to depart for 19.
JJ Smuts (24 off 27) and Ben Manenti (26 off 21) provided a late rally, but the pair were dismissed by spinner Gudakesh Motie (2/24) as hopes of an Italian upset faded. Shamar Joseph was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies taking four wickets for 28 runs, while Forde had three scalps for 19 runs to bundle out Italy even before they could complete their quota of 20 overs.
Hope’s important knock anchored West Indies’ innings in the beginning when Italy pacers Ali Hasan (1/24) and Thomas Draca (1/22) struck twice.
West Indies’ lower-middle order was kept on a tight leash by the spinners Ben Manenti (2/37) and Crishan Kalugamage (2/25) as they managed only 165-6 in 20 overs — a target that proved too much for the associate side, one which exits the tournament with just a single win against Nepal.