Darren Sammy-led West Indies are showing signs of peaking. Skipper Shai Hope rediscovered form with a fluent unbeaten 61 against Nepal while Shimron Hetmyer added solidity and strength to the middle order. Sherfane Rutherford emerged as a key finisher, highlighted by an unbeaten 76 against England, showcasing his ability to dominate at the death.
The bowling unit also looked balanced, with Matthew Forde impressing with his economy and Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie providing control in the middle overs. With tough Super Eights matches against Zimbabwe, South Africa and India, West Indies will be keen to build confidence at the Eden Gardens, a venue that holds fond memories for the team.
For already eliminated Italy, the match represents a chance to bow out with pride in their debut World Cup campaign. The Mosca brothers were influential at the top, setting the record for the highest T20 World Cup partnership between siblings. Ben Manenti was in excellent form while Harry Manenti led admirably in the absence of Wayne Madsen following his injury.
Despite being newcomers, Italy showed fighting spirit, including a dominant win over Nepal and a strong chase against England. They will be hoping to end their campaign with a statement, if only for the record books.