Brief Scores: Italy (124/0 in 12.4 overs) beat Nepal (123 all-out) by 10 wickets in a Group C match in Mumbai.
Italy’s historic breakthrough in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup raised hopes of a wider sporting impact at home, with head coach John Davison believing a landmark victory could finally put cricket in the spotlight – if only briefly – in a country dominated by other sports.
The the tournament debutants crushed Nepal by 10 wickets registered their first ever T20 World Cup victory in Mumbai, a result that Davison believes could resonate far beyond the borders. “This will be front page news in many countries and a lot of publications in Italy, I hope,” he said after the match. “To get that kind of exposure and maybe push the Winter Olympics to the back of the sport would be incredible for cricket in the country and just give it a bit of a spotlight.”
His comment was telling. Even as Italian cricketers celebrated a watershed momentnational sports headlines continue to be dominated by the Winter Olympics, where Italy is currently second in the medal standings with five gold, two silver and seven bronze medals. Breaking into that news cycle would be a big step forward for a sport that is still struggling for domestic recognition.
CONVICTION GROWS IN THE CAMP
Davison believes his players have shown the temperament of a side ready to grow on the global stage. “It was mentioned that there would be a lot of noise, but how good is it for the boys to play in front of so many people and in front of that noise?” he said. “We have a lot of experienced players on our team who have played in front of a crowd before, so that experience definitely helped the guys who probably haven’t experienced it.”
He added that recent results have boosted confidence in the team. “We’ve won five of the last six games, including the practice games and stuff, so we’ve been talking about believing and playing winning cricket. I’m really proud of the way the boys have gone about it.”
SEALS LANDMARK CLINICAL APPEARANCE NIGHT
Italy’s performance bolstered that confidence. Their spinners dismantled Nepal for 123, with Ben Manenti taking 2/9 and Crishan Kalugamage 3/18 in disciplined bowling. Stand-in captain Harry Manenti, replacing injured skipper Wayne Madsen, ended the innings with a sharp direct hit.
The chase was emphatic. Brothers Anthony and Justin Mosca formed an unbeaten opening partnership to seal victory in 7.2 overs. Anthony blasted 62 not out from 32 balls while Justin hit 60 from 44 balls as Italy completed a clinical triumph.
For the emerging cricketing nation, the result represented a more than convincing victory. It was a validation of years of effort, a statement of intent, and potentially a catalyst for growth. If Davison’s wish comes true and the victory captures the public imagination, Italy’s night in Bombay may be remembered as the moment when cricket finally earned its share of attention at home.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 12, 2026