On a Thursday in Kolkata, a young cricket side from Italy, making its first appearance on the sport's biggest global stage, stepped onto the field against a West Indies team that had already secured its place in the next round. Italy's regular captain had been sidelined by a shoulder injury, leaving Harry Manenti to lead the team in its last group match. The day carried the quiet weight of an underdog's journey: a loss to Scotland and England, a memorable win over Nepal, and now a final chance to close the campaign with dignity. Such moments remind us that the tournament is not only about who
Italy Wins Toss, Fields First Against West Indies in Final T20 World Cup Group Match
Italy's first World Cup, led by a stand-in after the captain's shoulder gave way
Mark
West Indies is already through. So what is actually at stake in this match?
Mimi
For West Indies, not qualification. For Italy, it settles how its first World Cup group stage ends, and it is the last chance to add to the Nepal win.
Luke
Worth saying the reporting doesn't tell us what Italy needed here to advance. It only says this is its last group game, so I wouldn't assume anything beyond that.
Mark
Why does Manenti's captaincy matter?
Mimi
Madsen dislocated his shoulder in the very first match, so Manenti has led the side for nearly the whole tournament.
Luke
Right, though the report doesn't say how the team has responded to that change. We know the injury and the results, not the link between them.
Mark
Manenti talked about swing. Is that a reasoned plan?
Mimi
It's a hope, in his words. He said he hoped there would be something in the wicket, and he cited the England game for confidence.
Luke
And that's his expectation, not a confirmed pitch report. The article gives no independent assessment of conditions.
Mark
And West Indies?
Mimi
Three wins, three fifty-plus scorers in Hope, Hetmyer and Rutherford, and an unchanged side.
O Pulso
- Italy chose to bowl first under a daytime Kolkata sky, betting that early movement would unsettle a powerful West Indies top order.
- Stand-in captain Harry Manenti steps into the role after Wayne Madsen's shoulder dislocation ended his tournament.
- West Indies arrives unbeaten in Group C with three wins and a Super 8 berth already secured, carrying aggressive half-centuries from Hope, Hetmyer and Rutherford.
- Italy's campaign has been split between defeats to Scotland and England and a dominant 10-wicket win over Nepal in Mumbai.
- The result will fix Italy's group finish, while Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Canada play their own decisive matches later the same day.
On a Thursday in Kolkata, a young cricket side from Italy, making its first appearance on the sport's biggest global stage, stepped onto the field against a West Indies team that had already secured its place in the next round. Italy's regular captain had been sidelined by a shoulder injury, leaving Harry Manenti to lead the team in its last group match. The day carried the quiet weight of an underdog's journey: a loss to Scotland and England, a memorable win over Nepal, and now a final chance to close the campaign with dignity. Such moments remind us that the tournament is not only about who advances, but about the small nations who arrive hoping to be seen.
In Kolkata on Thursday, Italy won the toss and chose to field first against West Indies in the final group match of its debut T20 World Cup. The decision was a wager on early movement for the bowlers, and Harry Manenti, standing in as captain, admitted he hoped the pitch would offer a little something.
Manenti has led the side since Wayne Madsen was ruled out, after dislocating his shoulder while fielding in the opening game against Scotland at the same ground. Italy has taken hard lessons from defeats to Scotland and England, but its ten-wicket win over Nepal in Mumbai stands as the high point of its campaign, and Manenti said that result gave the team real confidence.
West Indies arrives in a far more settled position. It has won all three group games and already qualified for the Super 8s, where it will face India, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Its top order has been aggressive, with Hope, Hetmyer and Rutherford each scoring half-centuries. The side kept the same eleven that beat Nepal, and Hope said losing the toss was simply something beyond their control.
Elsewhere on the same day, Zimbabwe plays Sri Lanka in Colombo and Afghanistan meets Canada, with the group table still to be settled.
In Kolkata on Thursday, Italy won the toss and chose to field first against West Indies in the last group-stage match of its first T20 World Cup. The game was played in daytime, and the choice was a bet on early movement for the bowlers.
Stand-in captain Harry Manenti made the call. He has led Italy since Wayne Madsen, the regular captain, was ruled out of the tournament. Madsen dislocated his shoulder while fielding in the opening group game against Scotland, at the same ground. Italy is making its debut at a major ICC global event.
At the toss, Manenti said he hoped there would be a bit in the wicket. He also said Italy took some confidence from its game against England, and described West Indies as another powerful team.
Italy's group record is mixed. It lost to Scotland and to England, but it also beat Nepal, a side many had fancied, by 10 wickets in Mumbai. That result is the high point of the campaign so far.
West Indies arrived in a different position. It has won all three of its Group C games and has already qualified for the Super 8s. In the second round it will be in Group 1 alongside co-host India, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Group 2 holds New Zealand, England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The top order has batted aggressively. Captain Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford have each made half centuries across the three group games. West Indies kept an unchanged side from the one that beat Nepal by nine wickets in its previous match. Hope said he did not mind losing the toss, because it was not in their hands.
West Indies named Brandon King, Hope, Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Rutherford, Matthew Forde, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosain, Shamar Joseph and Gudakesh Motie. Italy named Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, Syed Naqvi, Harry Manenti, J.J. Smuts, Ben Manenti, Grant Stewart, Gian-Piero Meade, Crishan Kalugamage, Thomas Draca and Ali Hasan.
Other group matches follow later on Thursday. Zimbabwe, which knocked Australia out of the tournament, plays Sri Lanka in Colombo. Afghanistan, a 2024 semifinalist that lost a double tiebreaker to South Africa this past week, meets Canada in its final Group D match.
Citações Notáveis
Hope there's a bit in the wicket. We take some confidence from the England game and West Indies is another powerful team.— Harry Manenti, Italy captain, at the toss
Hope said he didn't mind losing the toss because it's not in their hands.— Shai Hope, West Indies captain
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Leia o original em The Associated Press ↗
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