T20 World Cup 2026: Shai Hope shines with successive half-centuries
19 Feb 2026

West Indies racked up 165/6 (20 overs) against Italy in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

The Windies were powered by a 75-run knock from skipper Shai Hope, who lifted them from 31/2.

WI lost Brandon King and Shimron Hetmyer in the Powerplay, but Hope steadied the ship through a 64-run stand with Roston Chase.

Hope steadies the ship
Knock

Despite the fruitful stand between Hope and Chase, WI treaded slowly. They suffered a collapse thereafter, plunging from 95/2 to 115/5.

In the 16th over, Crishan Kalugamage knocked over Hope, leaving the Windies in a fix. The latter departed for 75 off 46 balls, a knock laced with 6 fours and 4 sixes.

Successive T20 WC half-centuries
Stats

Hope recorded a half-century for the second successive match. He earlier smashed an unbeaten 61 against Nepal in Mumbai.

Overall, this was his third T20 World Cup half-century and an 11th in T20Is.

In 64 T20Is, Hope has raced to 1,610 runs at an average of 30.37. His tally includes a strike rate of 138.07.

His strike rate in the T20 WC reads 152.32.