Hope: We won’t ease up against Italy

MUMBAI, India:

Even with the West Indies having punched their tickets to the next phase of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, skipper Shai Hope is adamant there will be no letdown in focus when they take on Italy in their final preliminary match on Thursday.

The West Indies produced a fine all-around effort to trounce Nepal by nine wickets at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday to qualify for the Super Eights.

Jason Holder led a sterling bowling performance by the West Indies that helped to setup a nine-wicket victory.

For the third time in as many matches, the Windies' bowlers fired on all cylinders, with Player-of-the-Match Holder's four-wicket haul playing a major role in restricting Nepal to a paltry 133 for eight from their 20 overs, after they were sent in to bat at Wankhede Stadium.

Captain Shai Hope then finally got among the runs, scoring an unbeaten half century, while Shimron Hetmyer continued his impressive form as the regional side coasted to 134 for one in 15.2 overs to record their third successive win in Group C.

MAXIMUM POINTS

The result carried them to a maximum six points and ensured qualification to the next stage of the tournament ahead of their final match.

Even with qualification already assured, Hope said the Windies would not be taking their eyes off the prize when they face Italy.

"It's just about continuing the brand of cricket that we want to play, ensuring that we're hitting our straps, focusing on all of the little details that we tend to neglect every now and again, and just about continuing the way we've been playing.

"We've been playing really good cricket over the last couple of games and series and it's just about bringing it together and hopefully we can carry it all the way through to the backend of the tournament," Hope said in an interview after the match.

DECENT START

Needing to score at just under seven runs an over, West Indies were given a decent start by openers Brandon King and Hope, despite neither of them being at their best.

They added 43 runs for the first wicket in five and a half overs before King slapped a short delivery from Nandan Yadav straight into the hands of mid on after scoring 22 off 17 balls.

Hetmyer and Hope then shared an unbroken partnership of 91. Hetmyer was not his usual aggressive self, but it did not stop him from scoring an unbeaten 46 off 32 balls, inclusive of four fours and two sixes.

Hope started slowly, but he accelerated with the target in sight, smashing Bhurtel for a four and six off consecutive deliveries in the 13th over, before bringing up his 10th T20I half century off 38 balls by hitting Lamichhane over long off for six, as the Windies sped to 122 for one in the 15th over.

LOWEST POWERPLAY SCORE

The captain said he was especially pleased with his bowlers, as the Caribbean side had Nepal reeling on 22 for three after six overs, the lowest Powerplay score of the 2026 World Cup to date.

Holder took 4-27, while Matthew Forde conceded just 10 runs from his four overs while taking a wicket.

"The guys put the ball in the right areas. It's something that Matthew has been doing very well, especially at the start of the innings, and it put them under pressure for the entire time, and it was difficult work for them in the Powerplay," Hope said..

"Then throughout the innings it was just about trying to limit the flow of runs and keep picking up wickets. We didn't pick up as many wickets as we wanted to in the backend, but I'm very happy with the bowlers today," Hope said.

- CMC