Italy stun Nepal for historic first T20 World Cup win

Mumbai, India – Italy carved its name into cricket folklore on Thursday night at Wankhede Stadium, recording a first-ever T20 World Cup victory in emphatic fashion by thumping Nepal by 10 wickets. The result, achieved in only Italy’s second appearance at a global tournament, also became just the eighth time a men’s T20 World Cup match has been settled without the loss of a single wicket.

Nepal, buoyant after pushing England close at the same venue four days earlier, were dismissed for 123 with three deliveries unused in their innings. Sri Lanka-born wrist-spinner Crishan Kalugamage did the early damage, removing captain Rohit Paudel among his 3 for 18 to trigger a steady collapse against the Italian attack.

The chase lasted a mere 12.4 overs as Sydney-raised siblings Anthony and Justin Mosca blazed an unbroken opening stand of 124. Anthony Mosca finished 62 not out from 32 balls, clearing the ropes five times, while elder brother Justin struck four sixes in his 60 not out from 44 deliveries. Between them the pair hammered nine maximums and eight fours to leave the Nepal bowlers shell-shocked.

The comprehensive success lifts Italy into an exclusive club alongside the Netherlands as the only non-British European sides to register a win in the competition’s history. For Nepal, the defeat stalls momentum gathered during Sunday’s spirited display against England and leaves them searching for answers ahead of their remaining group fixtures.

Earlier in the day Sri Lanka underlined their title credentials by crushing Oman by 105 runs in Pallekele. Captain Dasun Shanaka shattered his own national record for the fastest T20 half-century, reaching the milestone in 19 balls before departing the next delivery. Kusal Mendis contributed 61 and Pavan Rathnayake 60 in a tournament-high 225 for 5, before Oman limped to 120 for 9. Veteran Mohammad Nadeem, at 43, became the oldest player to register a T20 World Cup fifty, ending unbeaten on 53.

Italy will now turn their attention to their remaining group assignments, confident that a maiden victory has broken the ice in spectacular fashion.