Bhubaneswar, Feb, 23: West Indies cricket team remained unbeaten in Group C of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, winning all four of their league matches. Having already qualified for the Super 8 stage with three earlier wins, they defeated Italy national cricket team by 42 runs in their fourth match.
Batting first, West Indies scored 165 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. In reply, Italy were all out for 123 runs in 18 overs.
Shai Hope was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, scoring 75 runs and taking two catches. After Italy chose to field first and took two early wickets for 31 runs, including dismissing openers Brandon King (4) and Shimron Hetmyer (1), Hope held the innings together. He scored 75 off 46 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes. Other contributors included Roston Chase (24), Sherfane Rutherford (24 not out), and Matthew Forde (15 not out).
For West Indies, Shamar Joseph took 4 wickets and Matthew Forde claimed 3. For Italy, Ben Manenti scored 26, JJ Svanholm 24, Anthony Mosca 19, and Grant Stewart 12, but the rest failed to reach double figures.
Zimbabwe Top Group B Table After Beating Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe national cricket team moved to the top of the Group B points table after defeating Sri Lanka national cricket team by 6 wickets at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 178 for 7. Zimbabwe chased down the target in 19.3 overs, losing 4 wickets. Since both teams had earlier beaten Australia, the match had generated strong interest among fans.
Sikandar Raza played a key role in the victory and was named Player of the Match. For Sri Lanka, Pathum Nissanka scored 62 runs. Pawan Rathnayake added a quick 44 off 25 balls, while Kusal Perera scored 22 and Kusal Mendis made 14. Zimbabwe bowlers Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, and Graeme Cremer took two wickets each.
In the chase, openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani put on 69 runs. Marumani scored 34. Bennett later added a crucial partnership with Raza. Raza made 45 off 26 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes). Bennett remained unbeaten on 63 to guide Zimbabwe to victory.
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