The West Indies cricket team has emphatically secured their advancement to the Super Eight phase of the ICC T20 World Cup, becoming the first squad to clinch a berth following a devastating nine-wicket triumph over Nepal this Sunday at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. This victory represents their third consecutive win in the tournament, preserving an unblemished record in the group stages hosted across India and Sri Lanka.
With one group match still remaining against Italy scheduled for Thursday in Kolkata, the Caribbean side has already guaranteed progression. Their pre-seeded position as the group’s second-ranked team ensures they will carry this seeding into the next round, regardless of the final group standings. The Super Eight stage will see them face formidable opponents in Group C: India, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, commencing on February 23.
The match against Nepal was a demonstration of clinical efficiency. After electing to field, the West Indies bowling attack dismantled the Asian side’s top order, reducing them to a precarious 23 for 4 just after the powerplay. Pace bowler Jason Holder delivered a man-of-the-match performance, claiming 4 wickets for 27 runs and elevating his tournament tally to 7 wickets, placing him among the top five wicket-takers. Supported by Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, and Shamar Joseph—each taking a wicket—Nepal was restricted to a modest 133 for 8.
The chase was executed with commanding ease. An opening partnership of 43 between Captain Shai Hope and Brandon King set a solid foundation. Following King’s dismissal for a brisk 22, Hope combined with Shimron Hetmyer in an unbroken, match-winning stand of 91 runs. Hope’s elegant innings of 61, featuring five fours and three sixes, also saw him surpass 1500 career T20I runs. Hetmyer provided explosive support, smashing 46 off just 32 balls.
This comprehensive win builds upon earlier dominant performances. Hetmyer, now the team’s leading scorer with 133 runs at an average of 66.50, had previously blasted a half-century (64) to secure a win against Scotland. That match was also highlighted by Romario Shepherd’s international hat-trick. In the following game against arch-rivals England, Sherfane Rutherford’s career-best 74 and Gudakesh Motie’s spin bowling (3 for 33) sealed a comfortable 30-run victory.
Captain Shai Hope emphasized the team’s process-oriented mindset, stating, ‘When we got on the plane to come here, that was the first step… we all want to lift the trophy but there is a process to get there by playing our best cricket and peaking at the right time.’
The West Indies will conclude their group stage against Italy on Thursday, February 19, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Fans in the Caribbean can follow the action on ESPN Caribbean and Disney+.