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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.
Benjamin Manenti is back into the attack, replacing his brother. He went for 11 runs in his first over.
- George Munsey 67 (43)
- Michael Jones 27 (23)
Crishan Kalugamage to George Munsey, The Scots manage to get a couple of runs. Length delivery on middle, Munsey gets inside the line and flicks it just wide of square leg to scamper in a brace.
Crishan Kalugamage to Michael Jones, Quicker and slightly short, around off, Jones nudges the googly to square leg for one more.
Crishan Kalugamage to George Munsey, Bowls it on a length and on leg, Munsey picks it off the pads and tucks it to square leg for a single.
Crishan Kalugamage to Michael Jones, A bit too full as Crishan Kalugamage bowls the wrong 'un on the pads, flicked to square leg for a single.
Crishan Kalugamage to George Munsey, A googly, flatter trajectory on middle, Munsey whips it to deep square leg for a single.
Crishan Kalugamage to Michael Jones, Tossed up, fuller and on middle, Jones nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.
At the halfway mark, Scotland are in a very strong position to end with a big score. Crishan Kalugamage is into the attack for Italy.
- George Munsey 63 (40)
- Michael Jones 24 (20)
Harry Manenti to George Munsey, A dot to end but Scotland are flying at 91/0 after 10 overs. Slower one, back of a length and angled across off. Munsey reaches out and pats it down to covers.
Harry Manenti to Michael Jones, Short ball, at the bodyline line, Jones leans back and manages to pull it through square leg for a single.
Harry Manenti to Michael Jones, SIX! Michael Jones is now on the charge. Banged in short but angled down leg, Jones stays inside the line of the ball and hooks it over fine leg for a maximum.
Harry Manenti to Michael Jones, Excellent running. Slower one into the pitch, nurdled away into the gap at mid-wicket and the batters raced back for the second run.
Harry Manenti to George Munsey, Back of a length and slower too, Munsey walks across to access the leg side but adjusts and hits it down to long off for a single.
Harry Manenti to George Munsey, WIDE! Full and wide outside off, darts further away, left alone by Munsey.
Harry Manenti to George Munsey, FOUR! That's been bludgeoned away by Munsey. A bit slower and angled well across the left-hander. George Munsey reaches out, waits a bit and just flat-bats it straight down the ground for a boundary.
- Michael Jones 15 (17)
- George Munsey 58 (37)
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, A peach of a delivery to end a fine over from JJ Smuts, just 2 runs off it. Slower through the air, floated up from wider on the crease. This one angles in to begin with but grips and turns away. Michael Jones has a poke at it but the ball beats the outside edge.
JJ Smuts to George Munsey, Floated up on middle and leg, GM backs away leg side and swats it off the inner half of the blade to long on for a single.
JJ Smuts to George Munsey, Slightly tossed up, not all that full and on off. Munsey sets up for the reverse sweep but ends up wearing it on the pads.
UPDATE - Ian Bishop, on-air, has just confirmed that Italy's skipper, Wayne Madsen, has dislocated his shoulder and will take no further part in this game. What a blow to Italy in their very first game of this mega event.
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, Angled in with the arm, from outside off, Jones pushes it through covers for a single.
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, A bit fuller and at the stumps, Jones fails to get it away.
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, Slower through the air, sliding back in, Jones taps it back to the bowler.
- George Munsey 57 (35)
- Michael Jones 14 (13)
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, Benjamin Manenti finishes the over strongly. Keeps it full and outside off, Munsey drives well but Manenti dives to his right and stops certain runs.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, A low full toss, outside off. George Munsey lean across and plays it back to the bowler.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, Gets away with it this time, does Benjamin Manenti. Full and wide outside off, lands inside the tramline this time and Munsey lets it go.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, WIDE! Fired in again, wide outside off and this one goes beyond the tramline. Munsey leaves it alone.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, Flatter one at the stumps, jammed back to the bowler.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, FOUR! Fired it wide outside off, Munsey gets across again and swats it away wide of mid-wicket for another boundary.
Benjamin Manenti to George Munsey, SIX! Fifty for George Munsey and what a way to reach there! Tossed up outside off, Munsey is quick to walk across and go down on one knee before walloping it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. 14th T20I half century for Munsey.
Spin from both ends. The stand-in skipper for Italy, Benjamin Manenti to bowl now.
- George Munsey 47 (29)
- Michael Jones 14 (13)
JJ Smuts to George Munsey, Fullish length on middle, pushed down to long on for a single.
JJ Smuts to George Munsey, FOUR! Not where he intended it to go, but George Munsey is really frustrating the Italians now. Floated up, on off and middle, Munsey brings out the reverse sweep and gets a top edge. The ball goes fine and over short third for a boundary.
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, A good-looking shot from Michael Jones. Tossed up on off and middle, MJ backs away a bit and just strokes the lofted drive over extra cover. The fielder at long off runs a long way to his left and dives in to save the boundary. Three taken.
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, WIDE! Flatter one, darted down the leg side.
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, Straighter one, in line with the stumps, Jones blocks it off.
JJ Smuts to Michael Jones, FOUR! Oh, that's beautifully bowled but Jones will pick up a boundary. Around the wicket to the right-hander, bowling it fuller on off. The ball grips a bit and Jones is squared up. The ball takes the outside edge and rolls away into the deep third fence.
JJ Smuts to George Munsey, Flighted ball, on a nagging length and around off. Musey presses forward and nudges it in front of mid-wicket for an easy single. 50 UP FOR SCOTLAND!
Munsey was in sublime touch, mixing power with intent as he took on both pace and spin. He punished width and capitalised on anything in his arc, racing to 41 off just 26 balls by the end of the Powerplay. His innings featured a flurry of boundaries, including a productive fourth over off Thomas Draca that yielded 15 runs and tilted the contest firmly in Scotland’s favour. Michael Jones played the supporting role, rotating the strike and ensuring the pressure never eased on the bowlers.
Italy struggled to stem the flow despite rotating their attack. Ali Hasan and Grant Stewart found some movement but were unable to force a breakthrough, with chances also going down in the field. A dropped catch by Anthony Mosca off Munsey in the sixth over proved costly, allowing the left-hander to continue his assault.
Earlier, Munsey signalled his intent from the first over, striking consecutive boundaries off Hasan to give Scotland a flying start. With timing, intent and confidence on display, Scotland walked off at drinks firmly in control, having laid a solid foundation for a big total.
DRINKS BREAK! The Powerplay is over and Scotland are in the driver's seat at this stage. For Italy, for the first time asking, have dropped one catch down but more importantly, have lost their skipper, Wayne Madsen, through an injury. So, Italy are chasing a bit already but a lot of time for them to regroup and control the next phase. Also, time for some spin, JJ Smuts is into the attack.
- George Munsey 41 (26)
- Michael Jones 7 (10)
Grant Stewart to George Munsey, DROPPED! A huge opportunity on the last ball of the Powerplay but Justin Mosca has spilled it. Seemed like a cutter from Stewart, bowled on a hard length and outside off. George Munsey throws the hands at it and slices it up and just over covers. Three fielders from inside the ring run after it but it is Mosca who is the closest and gets under it, but lets it through the hands. Munsey gets a single.
Grant Stewart to George Munsey, Good length, just outside off, Munsey tries to power it through covers but miscues it badly.
Grant Stewart to George Munsey, FOUR! That's streaky but George Munsey is already into the 40s. Pitched up fuller again and outside off, Munsey attempts the same shot from the last ball but gets the toe end of the blade and the ball races away past the keeper, and into the deep third fence.
Grant Stewart to George Munsey, FOUR! That's classic Munsey. Full and outside off, GM walks across and inside the line of the ball, whipping it away through square leg and the fielder at deep backward square leg cannot cut it off.
Grant Stewart to George Munsey, Oh, extra bounce! Short of a good length and in the channel, the ball holds a bit in the deck and springs off the deck. Munsey has a poke at it but is beaten.
Grant Stewart to Michael Jones, Good-length delivery on the pads, Jones clips it away through square leg and turns the strike over.
Grant Stewart (1-0-7-0) returns to the attack. No signs of spin yet from Italy.
- Michael Jones 6 (9)
- George Munsey 32 (21)
Ali Hasan to Michael Jones, Some extra bounce seen for the first time. Jones steps down and punches off the higher part of the blade to cover and retains the strike.
Ali Hasan to George Munsey, Touch short, angling on the hips. Munsey picks up and works it behind square leg for one more.
Ali Hasan to Michael Jones, Into the surface, hard length and outside off, Jones punches on his toes to the cover fielder, who half-stops to his right and allows a single.
Ali Hasan to George Munsey, On a nagging length and around the fourth stump. GM strokes it to mid off for a quick single.
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
