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Scotland (207/4) outclass Italy (134) to seal emphatic victory in match 7 of T20 World Cup 2026

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Italy’s first-ever men’s World Cup appearance has brought unprecedented attention, with increased coverage back home and live television exposure. The novelty of the occasion and the promise within the squad have put them firmly in the spotlight at this T20 World Cup.

The team boasts a blend of experience and firepower. Former South Africa international JJ Smuts adds muscle, Ben Manenti arrives after an impressive BBL stint with the Sydney Sixers, while his brother Harry provides big-hitting potential. Openers Justin and Anthony Mosca share a strong understanding, Thomas Draca offers X-factor value, and 42-year-old captain Wayne Madsen brings vast experience to steady the side.

On the eve of the match, Madsen said the team had moved past the occasion and was fully focused on the challenge ahead — Scotland, whom Italy defeated in the Europe Qualifier.

Scotland come into the contest after a mixed opening loss to West Indies, showing promise but failing to capitalise at key moments. With less than 48 hours between games and familiarity with Eden Gardens, they’ll look to reset quickly.

Despite being the higher-ranked T20I side, Scotland may start as favourites, but Italy will be eager to turn this historic encounter into a memorable one.

Squads:

Italy
Squad: Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Wayne Madsen(c), Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Gian Meade(w), Grant Stewart, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan, Thomas Draca, Zain Ali, Syed Naqvi, Marcus Campopiano, Jaspreet Singh

Scotland Squad: Mark Watt, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington(c), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross(w), Oliver Davidson, Michael Leask, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Safyaan Sharif, George Munsey, Brad Wheal, Finlay McCreath, Brad Currie

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The italian team is ridiculous, just like the UAE team.

If a player holds nationality of that country, only than they should play as their representative.

Jj smuts isnt even from Italy, and i doubt he has a passport of Italy.
 
The italian team is ridiculous, just like the UAE team.

If a player holds nationality of that country, only than they should play as their representative.

Jj smuts isnt even from Italy, and i doubt he has a passport of Italy.

It is an ICC loophole. Same way how Eoin Morgan managed to play for both Ireland and England.

To be fair, this is the only way Italy can play cricket. Native Italians don't care about cricket. They are into football (Italy are the 4-time FIFA world champions).
 
It is an ICC loophole. Same way how Eoin Morgan managed to play for both Ireland and England.

To be fair, this is the only way Italy can play cricket. Native Italians don't care about cricket. They are into football (Italy are the 4-time FIFA world champions).
I don’t think native Italians know what cricket is. Lol
 
I don’t think native Italians know what cricket is. Lol

LOL. True. I don't blame them.

They are one of the greatest football teams in history. Won the football World Cup 4 times. Only Brazil have won it more than them.

I was shocked to see them in cricket world cup. Anyway, good for them. Hopefully they will go home with at least 1 win.
 
The italian team is ridiculous, just like the UAE team.

If a player holds nationality of that country, only than they should play as their representative.

Jj smuts isnt even from Italy, and i doubt he has a passport of Italy.
JJ Smuts played a few games for SA in both odi and t20s. I remember Hasan Ali hitting him for 3 sixes in one of the odi's.
 
I for one respect team Italy and the like. Imagine migrating overseas and still having a chance to upset proper teams you grew up watching? If you lose you still go home after basically a vacation / picnic playing the best players.

Imagine if Italian expat takes out an Indian chooza player or some Pakistani stalwart, he will be bragging back at his 9-5 that he took the wicket of the legendary Babar Azam or was showing intimidating eyes to Hardik Pandya and scaring him into a full toss that he smashed for a 6 over Pandya’s head.

Be honest, all of us will take this chance if given one.
 
I for one respect team Italy and the like. Imagine migrating overseas and still having a chance to upset proper teams you grew up watching? If you lose you still go home after basically a vacation / picnic playing the best players.

Imagine if Italian expat takes out an Indian chooza player or some Pakistani stalwart, he will be bragging back at his 9-5 that he took the wicket of the legendary Babar Azam or was showing intimidating eyes to Hardik Pandya and scaring him into a full toss that he smashed for a 6 over Pandya’s head.

Be honest, all of us will take this chance if given one.

Yeah. Definitely.

I used to play league cricket in Canada (2010-2015). I also wanted to go to the top and so did many other players.

A friend of mine actually managed to reach Canada A. I used to practice with him.
 
It is an ICC loophole. Same way how Eoin Morgan managed to play for both Ireland and England.

To be fair, this is the only way Italy can play cricket. Native Italians don't care about cricket. They are into football (Italy are the 4-time FIFA world champions).
Im not saying native italians should make up the team. Thats racist.

Im saying, if you hold a passport of that country than you should represent it. Even if you are a pakistani italian.
 
What happened to Joe Burns? He was playing for Italy during the qualifiers.

Joe Burns played for Australia before.
Italians are no different than desis.

Apprently burns helped them qualify and said to raise your standards, italian board got offended, thus removed him from their world squad that they were gonna announve
 
Can't wait to watch this cricket contest of the century

I am not watching the WC on a regular basis but won't miss this one. Want to help Ambani Bhai reducing his losses

Hopefully some Indian posters, residing in the country, will walk the walk and go to the stadium to support the Scottish team

🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
I for one respect team Italy and the like. Imagine migrating overseas and still having a chance to upset proper teams you grew up watching? If you lose you still go home after basically a vacation / picnic playing the best players.

Imagine if Italian expat takes out an Indian chooza player or some Pakistani stalwart, he will be bragging back at his 9-5 that he took the wicket of the legendary Babar Azam or was showing intimidating eyes to Hardik Pandya and scaring him into a full toss that he smashed for a 6 over Pandya’s head.

Be honest, all of us will take this chance if given one.
These guys are living the dream. Working stable, well paying jobs in foreign countries and getting the chance to play top flight cricket on the side and rub shoulders with the best players in the world.

Even if cricket doesn't work out they have something to fall back on. Ultimate desi dream
 
The italian team is ridiculous, just like the UAE team.

If a player holds nationality of that country, only than they should play as their representative.

Jj smuts isnt even from Italy, and i doubt he has a passport of Italy.

It is maybe worse than UAE. I read an article JJ Smuts never even set a foot in Italy.

His wife is Italian origin. She applied for Italian passport and got it. He then applied and because he has Italian Spouse he got it.
 
It is maybe worse than UAE. I read an article JJ Smuts never even set a foot in Italy.

His wife is Italian origin. She applied for Italian passport and got it. He then applied and because he has Italian Spouse he got it.
Oh, so if he has an italian passport, than i have no issue.

UAE would be the bigger joke for me than. No passport, and you get to represent them
 
Italians are no different than desis.

Apprently burns helped them qualify and said to raise your standards, italian board got offended, thus removed him from their world squad that they were gonna announve

That's not good.

This may well be Italy's only World Cup. They better enjoy it to the fullest.
 
That injury looks very bad. Dislocated shoulder. THey have lost the captain. Poor Italy. But he is 42 year old. Meanwhile Munsey is playing brilliantly.
 
It is maybe worse than UAE. I read an article JJ Smuts never even set a foot in Italy.

His wife is Italian origin. She applied for Italian passport and got it. He then applied and because he has Italian Spouse he got it.
Italians/ Russians have very much rigid/screw jack rules. Even their kids are considered as Italians or Russians irrespective of wherever they are born.Foreign resident Russians cant even cancel their citizenship. Their kids have to serve mandatorily in army even if his parent never visited russia in past 30/40 years.Any foreign citizen Russian have to travel to Singapore/Hong Kong to apply for the termination of their citizenship. Ofcourse it will never be accepted.
 
We narrowly escaped. We would have been watching Joker Ali, Twohit Hridoy but for divine intervention @SportsWarrior
From a cricketing POV , Bangladesh won't be missed at all.

But they bring massive eyeballs and crowds to these tournaments.

Not to mention the entertainment when their fans start crying after choking against teams.

Choked against both SA and AFG last time

Bangladesh is entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment.

Got to take that into consideration.

I doubt if these Scottish guys' own mothers' care about what happens in this tournament :inti
 
Was expecting some fancy Italian names ie Christine Vieri Paolo Rossi Francesco Totti.. instead some Indian call centre scammers are in the playing xi
 
Pretty good batting performance from Scotland. Italy didn't look particularly good and their captain Wayne Madsen dislocating his shoulder is a big blow for them. It's hard to see this Italy side winning any matches. For them, even beating Nepal would be an upset. Scotland on the other hand have it in them to shock a top team like England.
 
Pretty good batting performance from Scotland. Italy didn't look particularly good and their captain Wayne Madsen dislocating his shoulder is a big blow for them. It's hard to see this Italy side winning any matches. For them, even beating Nepal would be an upset. Scotland on the other hand have it in them to shock a top team like England.
Scotland has a good batting lineup
 
Pretty good batting performance from Scotland. Italy didn't look particularly good and their captain Wayne Madsen dislocating his shoulder is a big blow for them. It's hard to see this Italy side winning any matches. For them, even beating Nepal would be an upset. Scotland on the other hand have it in them to shock a top team like England.

Their bowling and lower order must be rubbish because their Top 5 - Munsey, Jones , Berrington, McMullen and Bruce looks a cut above even a few full member teams.
 
Their bowling and lower order must be rubbish because their Top 5 - Munsey, Jones , Berrington, McMullen and Bruce looks a cut above even a few full member teams.
Yup Berrington and Munsey are reliable names, and Jones and McMullen bring the youth. Tom Bruce is a very good addition too. Bowling is not great but okay for an associate side.
 
Italy's batting could have been better had they not left out Joe Burns and Emilio Gay for whatever reason. Both were important batters responsible for their World Cup qualification.

Emilio Gay struck a 21-ball fifty against Scotland in the final of the European Qualifiers which ended up being a match-winning knock that sealed Italy's World Cup qualification. He also plays county cricket for Northamptonshire and has a decent amount of county experience under his belt. Italy missing both these players big time.
 
Italy's batting could have been better had they not left out Joe Burns and Emilio Gay for whatever reason. Both were important batters responsible for their World Cup qualification.

Emilio Gay struck a 21-ball fifty against Scotland in the final of the European Qualifiers which ended up being a match-winning knock that sealed Italy's World Cup qualification. He also plays county cricket for Northamptonshire and has a decent amount of county experience under his belt. Italy missing both these players big time.
Emilo gay was injured
 
Italy's batting could have been better had they not left out Joe Burns and Emilio Gay for whatever reason. Both were important batters responsible for their World Cup qualification.

Emilio Gay struck a 21-ball fifty against Scotland in the final of the European Qualifiers which ended up being a match-winning knock that sealed Italy's World Cup qualification. He also plays county cricket for Northamptonshire and has a decent amount of county experience under his belt. Italy missing both these players big time.
Selecting 42 yo Madsen over Joe Burns was a very poor decision.
 
Scotland have came switched on and prepared at such short notice. Even the WIndies game they looked ok.
 
Good game. Great to see real Scottish and Italian people featuring in them and not South Asians making up the squad.
 
Not one of that top 5 is actually from Scotland though.
Richie Berrington was born in South Africa but has been part of the Scottish cricket set-up since age group cricket. Same for George Munsey who was born in England but has grown up in Scotland and been playing cricket there since he was a teenager. These two are arguably their two biggest players
 
Munsey I think played for Oxfordshire, in England, at golf at under 16s. He was also on the books of a few English counties at cricket.
 
Captain Wayne Madsen dislocated his left shoulder in the fourth over of Italy's debut match at the T20 World Cup.

The 42-year-old's journey to leading Italy at their first World Cup has been one of the eye-catching stories in the build-up, having been a stalwart of county cricket with Derbyshire and a former South Africa hockey international.

But he was injured attempting a diving stop against Scotland in Kolkata and immediately left the field. The Scots posted 207-4 from their 20 overs.

He will be assessed again in 24 hours before any decision is made on his participation in the rest of the tournament.

Italy play Nepal in Mumbai on Thursday before a game against England in Kolkata on 16 February.

Their final group match is against West Indies on 19 February, also in Kolkata.

 

Leask & Munsey star as Scotland beat debutants Italy​


T20 World Cup, Group C, Kolkata

Scotland 207-4 (20 overs): Munsey 84 (54), McMullen 41* (18)

Italy 134 (16.4 overs): B. Manenti 52 (31); Leask 4-17

Scotland win by 73 runs

Michael Leask and George Munsey starred as Scotland beat World Cup debutants Italy by 73 runs at Eden Gardens.

Munsey - dropped on 40 - blasted 84 as Scotland set 207-4 off their 20 overs, helped by Leask taking 22 from the final five balls of the innings.

Leask carried that momentum into the field, dismissing Italian opener Justin Mosca first ball as Munsey took an excellent diving catch to his right.

Despite a 73-run partnership between brothers Ben and Harry Manenti, Italy were always behind the rate and once they were removed, Scotland skittled the tail for a comfortable win.

With captain Wayne Madsen unable to bat having dislocated his shoulder fielding, Italy were bowled out for 134 in 16.4 overs.

Leask finished with magnificent figures of 4-17, while Mark Watt chipped in with 2-24 as Munsey pouched four catches.

Scotland - with one win from two - are next in action against England on Saturday, while Italy face Nepal on Thursday.

With a rushed build-up to the tournament having replaced Bangladesh, Scotland gave themselves a chance chasing 183 against West Indies in their opener before ultimately falling 35 short.

They built on that showing with an excellent batting display aided by a flat pitch and a rapid outfield.

Two thick edges brought Munsey boundaries in the opening over and that set the tone as the left-handed opener struck 13 fours and two sixes in a powerful knock.

Dropped by Anthony Mosca off the final ball of the powerplay, he and Michael Jones (37) added 126 for the opening wicket, laying the platform for Scotland's middle order.

Brandon McMullen was unperturbed by the loss of both openers, striking stylish six after stylish six to up the run-rate further.

He finished 41 not out off just 18 balls and had the best seat in the house to watch Leask close out the innings by smacking Thomas Draca for two sixes and two fours.

Those fireworks took Scotland past 200 for the first time at a men's T20 World Cup and also set the highest total by an associate team in the competition.

Although Leask and Munsey combined with the first ball of the reply, former South Africa international JJ Smuts and Anthony Mosca took 23 off Brad Wheal to spark life into the debutants.

However, both men were out within the powerplay as Brad Currie and Watt struck for the Scots.

The Australia-born Manenti brothers kept Italy in the contest, but Harry picked out Munsey at long-off from the returning Leask and Ben holed out to Jones off Olly Davidson as hope drained away.

Grant Stewart and Gian-Piero Meade both chipped straightforward catches back down the ground, before Wheal came back to dismiss Ali Hasan and wrap up proceedings.

Spin trio Leask, Watt and Davidson took combined figures of 7-80 as Scotland avenged their defeat by the Italians at last summer's qualifier in the Netherlands.

 
Scotland vs Italy what a mockery of international cricket

another Scotland thread not gone past 50 posts

Bangladesh should have been in.

i wonder what attendance might have been for this match lol
 
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