3 months ago
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Fans turned up successful ample numbers astatine the Wankhede Stadium connected Thursday (February 12, 2026) to cheer for Nepal. But successful the end, it turned retired to beryllium a bosom interruption for them arsenic Italy assessed the conditions perfectly and pulled disconnected a 10-wicket triumph to enactment its T20 World Cup run backmost connected track.
Coming connected the backmost of a decision against Scotland successful its opening fixture, not galore expected Italy to enactment connected a amusement against Nepal which mislaid narrowly to England. But with spinners Ben Manenti and Crishan Kalugamage making optimum usage of the turning way and bowling Nepal retired for a paltry 123, it turned retired to beryllium a cakewalk for Italy.
An unbroken 124-run concern betwixt openers Anthony Mosca (62 n.o., 32b, 3x4, 6x6) and Justin Mosca (60 n.o., 44b, 5x4, 3x6) saw Italy pursuit down the people wrong 13 overs.
It was an affectional infinitesimal for the Mosca brothers, who denied Nepal a accidental of a fightback with their assertive batting, and guided the squad location to not lone drawback important points but besides amended its nett tally rate.
Justin and Anthony’s concern was the highest betwixt siblings successful the T20 World Cup history, surpassing Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal’s 96-run basal against Australia successful 2014.
Before the brothers hogged the limelight and stunned Nepal, Ben and Kalugamage dominated the show.
Nepal mislaid wickets astatine regular intervals. Ben, who opened the bowling, claimed 2 wickets conceding conscionable 9 runs, to acceptable up Italy’s first-ever triumph successful the World Cup.
The scores: Nepal 123 successful 19.3 overs (Kalugamage 3/18, Ben 2/9) mislaid to Italy 124/0 successful 12.4 overs (Justin Mosca 60 n.o., Anthony Mosca 62 n.o.).
Toss: Italy; PoM: Kalugamage.
