West Indies vs Italy Prediction & Match Preview – T20 World Cup 37th Match

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Eden Gardens

West Indies top Group C with three wins from three, six points and a net run rate of +1.820. A nine-wicket victory over Nepal booked their Super Eight spot, and captain Shai Hope found form with 61 from 44 balls in that chase.

Shimron Hetmyer has been their leading batter with 133 runs in three games, including 64 against Scotland and 46 against Nepal. Sherfane Rutherford struck 76 off 42 against England, and Rovman Powell remains the finisher. Jason Holder leads the attack with seven wickets, including 4 for 27 against Nepal, while Romario Shepherd has six after a five-wicket haul with a hat-trick against Scotland. Gudakesh Motie has four wickets and Roston Chase three.

Italy have been the story of the group on their World Cup debut, beating Nepal for a first win and sitting fourth. They pushed England hard, chasing 203 and finishing on 178 all out. Justin Mosca made 43 off 34 after an early slump to 22 for 3, then Ben Manenti hit 60 off 25 balls and Grant Stewart 45 off 23.

With the ball, Crishan Kalugamage has five wickets, while Ben Manenti, JJ Smuts, Ali Hasan and Grant Stewart have three each. Italy are out of the running for a top-two finish, but they will play without fear.

Pitch report

Eden Gardens tends to be batting-friendly early, with true bounce and good carry that reward strokeplay. A quick outfield and shorter side boundaries make scoring easy, so first-innings totals often run from the mid-150s to 180 and beyond. The surface can slow a little later, helping spinners in the middle overs, while seamers rely on variations. Night games can bring dew, which is why some captains choose to bowl first.

Weather

Late-morning conditions in Kolkata on 19 February should be warm and mostly sunny with a slight winter haze, reaching the upper 20s to around 30°C. Humidity is likely to be moderate, and there is little to no chance of rain, so uninterrupted cricket is expected.

Expected scores

1st innings: 165–180
2nd innings: 150–170

Frequently asked questions

What is West Indies’ record in Group C?

They have won all three matches for 6 points and a net run rate of +1.820, and sealed a Super Eight place with a nine-wicket win over Nepal.

How have Italy done on their T20 World Cup debut?

Italy have recorded their first World Cup win, against Nepal, and sit fourth in Group C after three games.

What is a good total at Eden Gardens?

Our par range is 165–180 for the side batting first; anything below 155 would feel short.

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