Italian spinners Crishan Kalugamage and Ben Manenti played key roles as Italy secured their first-ever victory at the cricket T20 World Cup by defeating Nepal with a commanding 10-wicket win. Kalugamage claimed figures of 3-18, while Manenti contributed with 2-9 to dismiss Nepal for 123 runs. Italy’s opening pair comfortably chased down the target with 44 balls to spare at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The Mosca brothers, Justin and Anthony, showcased an aggressive batting display, with Justin scoring 60 runs and Anthony adding 62 runs to power Italy to victory. Despite being renowned for football, Italy, ranked as the lowest team in the 20-nation tournament, displayed their cricketing prowess in this match.
Having suffered a defeat to Scotland in their opening game, Italy regrouped and delivered a strong performance against Nepal. In contrast, Nepal, who had put up a tough fight against England previously, faltered from 93-3 to get bowled out in just 19.3 overs.
Player of the match Kalugamage expressed his joy in contributing to the team’s success and representing Italy on the global stage. The absence of captain Wayne Madsen, who was sidelined due to a shoulder injury, did not deter Italy’s determined effort after winning the toss and opting to field first.
Kalugamage and Manenti’s bowling efforts disrupted Nepal’s batting lineup, with the Mosca brothers showcasing a dominating batting display to seal the victory. Italy’s triumph propelled them to the third position in the group standings, causing England to slip to fourth, with the West Indies leading the group.