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- Scotland vs Italy highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Scotland crush Italy by 73 runs
Scotland vs Italy highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Scotland crush Italy by 73 runs
T20 World Cup Schedule | Points Table
Batting first, Scotland posted an imposing target of 208 runs, courtesy of George Munsey (84), Brandon McMullen (41) and Michael Leask’s (22 not out) fiery knocks. In reply, Italy's chase never really got going, and they were bowled out for 134 in 16.4 overs.
Chasing 208, Italy got off to a disastrous start with Justin Mosca dismissed for a golden duck. His brother Anthony Mosca (13) and JJ Smuts (22 off 11) showed brief intent, with the latter striking at 200, but neither could convert their starts as wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals.
The resistance came through the Manenti brothers. Harry Manenti played a spirited knock of 37 off 25 balls, while Ben Manenti top-scored with 52 off 31, hitting five fours and a six to momentarily lift Italy’s hopes. However, the lack of support from the other end ensured the required rate continued to spiral.
Italy collapsed once the Manentis were dismissed, losing their final wickets quickly. Michael Leask was the standout bowler for Scotland, ripping through the middle order with figures of 4/17, while Mark Watt chipped in with two wickets and kept things tight. Contributions from Brad Currie, Brad Wheal, and Oliver Davidson ensured sustained pressure throughout the innings.
With Italy falling short of one batter after their skipper dislocated his shoulder in the first innings, they lost nine wickets inside 17 overs as Scotland completed a comprehensive 73-run victory.
Earlier, Scotland produced a commanding batting display, posting 207/4. It was the first 200-plus total of the tournament and also marked the first time an associate nation has scored over 200 in a T20 World Cup.
After being sent in to bat, Scotland built a strong platform through openers Munsey and Michael Jones, who added 126 runs for the first wicket. Munsey led the charge with a superb 84 off 54 balls, striking 13 fours and two sixes, while Jones contributed 37 off 30. Their partnership ensured Scotland stayed in control despite a steady powerplay of 49 runs.
Following the openers’ dismissals, Brandon McMullen and skipper Richie Berrington kept the momentum going. Scotland accelerated sharply in the death overs, with Berrington and McMullen exploiting the Italian attack before Leask provided a late flourish, smashing 22 runs in the final over as Scotland finished strongly with 207 runs on board.
Ali Hasan was Italy's leading bowler, finishing with 1-21, highlighted by a brilliant 19th over in which he conceded just four runs and picked up a wicket.
Ali Hasan to bowl the penultimate over.
- Richie Berrington 15 (8)
- Brandon McMullen 38 (16)
Grant Stewart to Richie Berrington, A low full toss, slanting into the legs, Berrington hoicks it away to the right of deep mid-wicket and picks up a couple of runs.
Grant Stewart to Brandon McMullen, Full again, sliding it down the leg side, McMullen sits down and helps it down to long leg for a single.
Grant Stewart to Richie Berrington, Fuller and attacking the stumps, hacked away off the inside edge and behind square leg for another single.
Grant Stewart to Brandon McMullen, Back of a length and around off, lofted over mid off for a single.
Grant Stewart to Brandon McMullen, WIDE! Again! Fuller and darted down leg, McMullen looks to flick it but misses.
Grant Stewart to Brandon McMullen, WIDE! A bouncer, sliding down leg, McMullen lets it go to the keeper.
Grant Stewart to Brandon McMullen, SIX! That's shot of the day, surely. Into the surface, the cutter on middle, lands nicely for McMullen, who takes a step forward and punches it aerially over long on and it goes the distance. Proper cricketing shot.
Grant Stewart to Brandon McMullen, A low dipping fuller delivery on middle, McMullen whips it to deep mid-wicket for a brace.
- Richie Berrington 12 (6)
- Brandon McMullen 28 (12)
JJ Smuts to Richie Berrington, FOUR! Fine shot from the skipper. Back of a length and around off, Richie Berrington gets across and inside the line, lapping it down on one knee and over short fine leg for a boundary.
JJ Smuts to Richie Berrington, That's well struck but equally well fielded. Full and outside off, Berrington reaches out and smacks it flat to deep extra cover. Grant Stewart from long off runs across and makes a fine stop. Two taken.
JJ Smuts to Richie Berrington, FOUR! Flayed away to the fence. Tossed up, full and outside off, Richie Berrington throws his hands at it and slices it wide of short third for a boundary.
JJ Smuts to Brandon McMullen, Floated up around middle, McMullen eases it through mid on for one.
JJ Smuts to Richie Berrington, Smartly bowled. Tossed up, full and wide but really slow. Smuts just saw Berrington lining up the big shot and slowed it up. This is squeezed towards backward point for a run.
JJ Smuts to Brandon McMullen, On a length, angled into middle and leg, McMullen stays back and works it through mid-wicket for one.
- Brandon McMullen 26 (10)
- Richie Berrington 1 (2)
Crishan Kalugamage to Brandon McMullen, Short and outside off, cut away to deep point for a single.
Crishan Kalugamage to Brandon McMullen, SIX! Oh, that's exquisite from McMullen. Flighted ball around off, BM makes room by moving down the leg side and goes inside-out over extra cover for another biggie. 150 is now up for Scotland.
Crishan Kalugamage to Brandon McMullen, SIX! That's a fine shot from Brandon McMullen. Tossed up, full and angled into the hitting arc. McMullen stays put and hits through the line, nailing it over the bowler's head for a biggie.
Crishan Kalugamage to Brandon McMullen, Shorter one on middle, pushed down to long on for a couple of runs more.
Crishan Kalugamage to Richie Berrington, Oh, just short! Flighted ball on middle and leg, Richie backs away and lofts it flat and on the bounce to long on. Grant Stewart does well to get his body behind it and keeps it down to a single.
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, OUT! GONE! One brings two. An armball, pushes it wide of off, Jones tries to clear the man at cover as he swings hard but hits it straight to Harry Manenti there, who bends forward and gets low to pick up right above the ground. So, both the set batters are back in the hut. Also, Richie Berrington is the new batter in.
- Richie Berrington 0 (1)
- Brandon McMullen 10 (5)
JJ Smuts to Richie Berrington, Pushed through, fuller and just outside off, Richie Berrington leans to drive but gets beaten on the inside edge.
Crishan Kalugamage to Brandon McMullen, Tossed up at the stumps, eased down to long on for a single.
JJ Smuts to Brandon McMullen, Too full and around off, driven down to long off for a single.
JJ Smuts to Brandon McMullen, SIX! That sounded so good off the blade. Flights a bit on the fuller side and around off, Brandon McMullen slog-sweeps and nails his shot over mid-wicket for a biggie.
Scotland looking to set up a total of around 200.
JJ Smuts to Brandon McMullen, Tossed up, fuller and on middle and leg, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
The breakthrough came in the 14th over, moments before the drinks break, when Stewart smartly rolled his fingers over a slower delivery outside off. Munsey, looking to continue his onslaught, attempted to muscle the ball across the line but mistimed the stroke. The ball travelled straighter than intended and was safely taken by Harry Manenti at long-on, giving Italy their first wicket of the World Cup.
The dismissal brought an end to a massive 126-run opening partnership that had blunted Italy’s attack and set Scotland up for a strong finish. Munsey’s innings, studded with 13 fours and two sixes, had powered Scotland through the middle overs and ensured they entered the second half of the innings with momentum firmly on their side.
JJ Smuts to Brandon McMullen, An armball, length and around off, this is punched to cover.
- Brandon McMullen 1 (1)
- Michael Jones 37 (29)
Grant Stewart to Brandon McMullen, Bangs it short and on leg, not that short and Brandon McMullen pulls it to square leg to get his innings underway.
DRINKS BREAK! A historic first wicket for Italy in the Men's T20 World Cup and it goes to Grant Stewart. However, they are bleeding runs and could be staring at a total of around 200 runs. George Munsey has just departed after playing a stellar knock but he will be gutted to have missed out on a century. Scotland have the wickets in hand and it is now up to Michael Jones to take the reins and make sure his side do not let things slip. Can Italy now calm their nerves and pick up a couple of more wickets, or at least slow down the scoring rate? Let's find out.
Grant Stewart to George Munsey, OUT! TAKEN! Italy get the first wicket of their World Cup campaign. Better late than never. Grant Stewart keeps it wide outside off but drags his length and bowls into the surface. Munsey throws his bat as he tries to pull but was in no shape at all. Hits it high and to long on where Harry Manenti reverse cups it near his head. An easy catch and Italy break the 126-run stand. An outstanding knock from George Munsey, 84 (54), comes to an end. Brandon McMullen replaces George Munsey.
Grant Stewart to George Munsey, FOUR! George Munsey is unstoppable today! Moves to 84! Overpitched, keeps it wide outside off. Munsey uses his feet this time and crunches it to the right of long off for four runs.
Grant Stewart to George Munsey, Well bowled! Bowls a slower fuller delivery, well outside off, Munsey tries to hit it away without any foot movement and ends up tapping it back to Stewart.
Grant Stewart to Michael Jones, On a good length and around off, Jones plays it down to long off for a run.
Grant Stewart to Michael Jones, SIX! JUST OVER THE FIELDER! Short of a good length, around off, Jones forces his lofted punch shot. Hits it high and just enough to beat the effort from the long on fielder.
Another bowling change from this end as Grant Stewart (2-0-17-0) comes back into the attack.
- George Munsey 80 (51)
- Michael Jones 30 (27)
Crishan Kalugamage to George Munsey, An appeal for LBW, mainly from Crishan but turned down. Floated on the fuller side on leg, Munsey looks to sweep but misses and wears it on the pads. It was going down leg.
Crishan Kalugamage to George Munsey, Straight and full on middle, patted back to Crishan Kalugamage.
Crishan Kalugamage to Michael Jones, Slightly short, outside off, too wide and Michael Jones cuts it through point for a single. Jones wants another run but is sent back.
Crishan Kalugamage to George Munsey, Fuller delivery, outside off, punched past cover for a single.
Crishan Kalugamage to George Munsey, Wide! Too full on leg, George Munsey looks to sweep it again but misses.
Crishan Kalugamage to George Munsey, FOUR! That was asking to be hit and Munsey wasn't going to miss out with that kind of line. Well down leg, fuller. Jones slog-sweeps it to deep backward square leg for a boundary.
Crishan Kalugamage to Michael Jones, Bowls it full and wide of off, Jones shuffles across and paddles it in front of mid-wicket for a single.
- George Munsey 75 (47)
- Michael Jones 28 (25)
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, Yorks him with a fuller delivery, outside off, Munsey fails to dig it out.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, A bit too full and around off, George Munsey works it wide of long on for a quick couple of runs.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, SIX! 100 up for Scotland. Munsey has been so good on the leg side today. Tossed up, around off, easy pickings for Munsey as he slogs it over deep mid-wicket and just over the fielder there for a six. This is the first 100-run partnership for Scotland for any wicket in the Men's T20 World Cup.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, Attacking the stumps, fuller delivery and on off, tapped back to the bowler.
Benjamin Manenti to Michael Jones, It doesn't carry at all, despite the cries of catch! Fractionally short and into the surface, outside off. Jones hoicks across as he goes back, balloons it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Benjamin Manenti to Michael Jones, Tossed up, full and in line of the stumps, Jones eases it to the right of Manenti, who dives and stops it well.
Asked to bat first, Scotland piled up a daunting 207/4, riding on a blazing 84 from George Munsey, a rapid 41 from Brandon McMullen and an unbeaten 22 from Michael Leask. The target proved far beyond Italy, whose chase faltered early and ended at 134 all out in 16.4 overs.
Italy’s reply got off to the worst possible start as Justin Mosca fell for a golden duck. Anthony Mosca chipped in with 13, while JJ Smuts briefly threatened with a quickfire 22 off 11 balls at a strike rate of 200, but regular wickets prevented any sustained momentum.
The only real resistance came from the Manenti brothers. Harry Manenti fought hard with 37 off 25 balls, while Ben Manenti top-scored with a fluent 52 from 31 deliveries, including five boundaries and a six. Their efforts briefly revived Italy’s hopes, but the mounting required rate and lack of support from the other end proved costly.
Once the Manentis departed, Italy’s innings unraveled quickly. Michael Leask starred with the ball, slicing through the middle order to return figures of 4/17. Mark Watt claimed two wickets, while Brad Currie, Brad Wheal and Oliver Davidson maintained relentless pressure.
Italy, already a batter short after skipper Wayne Madsen dislocated his shoulder while fielding in the first innings, lost their final wickets in a rush as Scotland wrapped up a comprehensive victory inside 17 overs.
Earlier, Scotland’s batting set the tone in emphatic fashion. Openers Munsey and Michael Jones laid a solid foundation with a 126-run stand for the first wicket. Munsey struck 13 fours and two sixes in his 54-ball knock, while Jones added 37 from 30 deliveries as Scotland reached a steady 49 in the powerplay.
McMullen and captain Richie Berrington ensured the momentum never dipped, before Leask’s late assault — 22 runs off the final over — pushed Scotland past the 200 mark. The total was the first 200-plus score of the tournament and also the first time an associate nation has crossed 200 in a T20 World Cup.
Match Statistics
Venue
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
