Italy secured its first-ever victory in a T20 World Cup match with a commanding 10-wicket win over Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Italy delivered a disciplined performance in the field, restricting Nepal to 123 runs.
Leg-spinner Crishan Kalugamage led the bowling attack with an impressive three-wicket haul, applying crucial pressure in the middle overs to keep the opposition in check.
In response, Italy’s batters produced a flawless run chase, reaching the target without losing a wicket to seal a historic triumph.
The victory marks a significant turnaround for the European side, who began their campaign with a 73-run defeat to Scotland at Eden Gardens.
Italy qualified for the T20 World Cup after finishing as runners-up at the 2025 Europe Regional Final, and Thursday’s win represents a major milestone in the nation’s cricketing journey.
Nepal has given Italy a target of 124 runs to win. Interestingly, the teams of Italy and Nepal have faced each other for the first time in the history of cricket in a T20 International match; the two teams have never competed in this format before.
The Italian team includes Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, JJ Smith, Harry Menenti (captain), Ben Menenti, Marcus Campopiano, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (wicketkeeper), Jaspreet Singh, Krishna Kalugamagye and Ali Hassan.
While the Nepal team includes Kushal Bharti, Asif Sheikh (wicketkeeper), Rohit Poudel (captain), Deepinder Singh Airi, Arif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Kiran KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi.
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