T20 World Cup: Hope, Joseph and Forde keep West Indies unbeaten

Shamar Joseph became the first player to take four catches and four wickets in a single T20 international as the West Indies extended their unbeaten World Cup record with a 42-run victory over Italy.

Having already secured Super Eights qualification, the two-time champions completed a perfect group-stage record of four wins from four at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

Italy won the toss and chose to bowl, making a positive start by dismissing opener Brandon King (4) and the big-hitting Shimron Hetmyer (1) cheaply inside the first five overs.

Windies captain Shai Hope helped lead his side to a competitive total, compiling a second successive fifty before he was bowled by Crishan Kalugamage for 75 off 46 balls, including six fours and four sixes.

Roston Chase and Sherfane Rutherford both added 24 as West Indies posted 165-6. Kalugamage was the best of Italy’s bowlers, finishing with 2-25 off his four overs.

Italy struggled to make any sort of a dent in their run chase, slipping to 37-3 after the Powerplay.

Jon-Jon Smuts (24) and Ben Manenti (26) were the only batters to pass 20 for the Italians, who beat Nepal to claim their first-ever T20 World Cup win earlier in the tournament.

Joseph (4-30) and Matthew Forde (3-19) were the pick of the West Indies’ bowlers as Italy were dismissed for 123 in 18 overs. Hope side’s progress to the Super Eights having bowled out three of their four group-stage opponents. (BBC)