Nepal were handed a sobering reality check as Italy registered an emphatic victory in the 17th match of Group B at the Wankhede Stadium. After an encouraging performance against England earlier in the competition, Nepal’s batting crumbled against a disciplined Italian bowling unit.

Italy came into the game on the back of a loss to Scotland but showed composure after winning the toss and choosing to bowl. From the very first over, their bowlers applied pressure, denying Nepal any room to settle.

The middle overs also proved decisive, with Ben Manenti producing a standout spell, extracting sharp turn and variable bounce.

He was well supported by left-arm spinner JJ Smuts, as the Italian spinners worked in tandem to choke the scoring. Leg-spinner Cishan Kalumage was exceptional with his control and guile, ensuring Nepal’s batters never found rhythm The collective effort saw Nepal bowled out for 123 in 19.3 overs.

What followed was a statement chase, as the Mosca brothers, Justin and Anthony, came out with clear intent and dismantled the Nepal bowling attack. Their aggressive approach yielded 68 runs in the first six overs, effectively ending the contest early.

Both batters went on to register fluent half-centuries, completing a dominant 10-wicket victory and marking a landmark moment in Italian cricket history.

Top batting performance: Anthony Mosca

Anthony Mosca was the standout batter, as he smashed 62 off just 32 deliveries at a staggering strike rate of 193.75, clearing the ropes six times and finding the fence on three occasions. Mosca was the accelerator in Italy’s chase, ensuring there were no nerves as Italy cruised past the target with ease.

Top bowling performance: Ben Manenti 

Ben Manenti was the standout bowler as he completely strangled Nepal’s innings.

He conceded just nine runs in his four overs and picked up two crucial wickets, finishing with a remarkable economy of 2.25. Manenti ensured Nepal were constantly under pressure, as he never allowed them to build momentum.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• Italy’s 68/0 in the powerplay was the third-highest powerplay score by an Associate nation in T20 World Cup history.
• Ben Manenti’s spell ranks as the fourth most economical bowling performance by an Associate bowler in T20 World Cups.
• Italy registered their first-ever victory in T20 World Cup history.
• This was Italy’s first 10-wicket win in T20 World Cups.
• The opening partnership in the chase became the third-highest opening stand by an Associate team in T20 World Cup history.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Crishan Kalumage was named Player of the Match as he broke the back of Nepal’s batting.

The leg-spinner bowled his full quota and conceded just 18 runs while claiming three key wickets. His scalps included Nepal captain Rohit Paudel, Aasif Sheikh Aairee and Gulshan Jha.

When is the next match?

Italy will be back in action on February 16, when they face England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while Nepal will look to bounce back against West Indies on February 15 in Mumbai.