Italy produced a commanding performance to record their first-ever victory at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, chasing down 124 in 12.4 overs to beat Nepal at Wankhede Stadium. The result completed a one-sided contest: Nepal were bowled out for 123, and Italy’s openers finished the job with a record opening stand that left the stadium stunned.
Clinical bowling set the platform
Asked to bat, Nepal cricket team never recovered from disciplined Italian bowling. Leg-spinner Crishan Kalugamage was the destroyer with 3 for 18, while left-arm seamer Ben Manenti returned tidy figures of 2 for 9 as Nepal were dismissed for 123 in 19.3 overs. Tight lines and smart variations in the middle overs choked Nepal’s scoring and produced regular wickets.
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Mosca brothers complete the story
In reply, the Mosca brothers produced a memorable opening stand. Justin Mosca (60* off 44) and Anthony Mosca (62* off 32) both struck unbeaten fifties to carry Italy cricket team to victory by 10 wickets. The pair combined aggression with control from the start, knocking the required runs off in just over a dozen overs and leaving Nepal’s bowlers with few answers. Their partnership was decisive, a rare complete chase that underlined Italy’s growth on the global stage.
What this result means
The win is a landmark for Italy, their first at a T20 World Cup, and a major statement about the expanding competitiveness among associate and emerging teams. For Nepal, the game is a setback after a valiant showing against England earlier in the tournament; their batting collapse here exposed vulnerabilities in the middle order that opposition teams will look to exploit. For Italy, the combination of incisive spin, disciplined pace and explosive opening batting gives coach and fans real cause for optimism as the group stage progresses.
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Key stats and figures
Venue: Wankhede Stadium
Nepal 123 all out (19.3 overs); Crishan Kalugamage 3/18, Ben Manenti 2/9
Italy 124/0 (12. 4 overs); Mosca J 60 not out, Mosca A 62 not out
Italy won by 10 wickets
New rising nation in cricket
This result reshuffles the Group C landscape: Italy have suddenly become a team to watch, while Nepal must regroup quickly to keep qualification hopes on track. The T20 World Cup continues to deliver surprises, and Italy’s debut win will be remembered as one of the tournament’s more remarkable upsets.
After a defeat against Scotland a win over Nepal, Italy will now face England & West Indies next & it will be intriguing to see if they can pull off an upset in any of those games.
