The Italy vs Nepal T20 World Cup 2026 match at the Wankhede Stadium wasn’t just a game; it was a seismic shift in World Cup history. Italy, making their tournament debut, secured their first-ever victory in style—a crushing 10-wicket demolition of the highly-rated Rhinos. After a spin-bowling masterclass led by Crishan Kalugamage (3/18) restricted Nepal to a meager 123, the Mosca brothers turned the chase into a victory parade. Anthony and Justin Mosca stayed unbeaten to chase the target in just 12.4 overs, marking a “Roman Conquest” that left the partisan Mumbai crowd in stunned silence.
Match Summary: A Clinical Azzurri Masterclass
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 - Match 17 - Italy vs Nepal
Italy’s historic 10-wicket victory was defined by relentless discipline and power-hitting. After stand-in skipper Harry Manenti won the toss and elected to field, the Italian bowling unit squeezed Nepal into a total of 123. Ben Manenti (2/9) was virtually unplayable, while Crishan Kalugamage (3/18) ripped the heart out of the middle order. In response, Italy’s openers made light work of the chase. The Mosca Brothers annihilated the Nepal attack, reaching 124/0 with 44 balls to spare and propelling Italy to 3rd place in Group C, leapfrogging England on Net Run Rate.
Playing XI
Italy
Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Marcus Campopiano, Harry Manenti (C), Grant Stewart, Gian-Piero Meade (WK), Crishan Kalugamage, Ben Manenti, Jaspreet Singh, Ali Hasan.
Nepal
Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (WK), Rohit Paudel (C), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi.
Key Stats & Records From Today's Match:
Italy’s demolition of Nepal in Mumbai didn’t just break the ice; it broke several long-standing T20 World Cup records:
Sibling Supremacy: Justin and Anthony Mosca’s unbeaten 124-run stand is now the highest-ever partnership by siblings in T20 World Cup history. They surpassed the previous record of 96 held by Kamran and Umar Akmal (Pakistan vs Australia, 2014).
Azzurri’s 10-Wicket First: This was Italy’s first-ever 10-wicket victory in T20I history. Their previous best was a 9-wicket win over Turkey in 2024.
The Elite 10-Wicket Club: Italy became only the second Associate nation to register a 10-wicket victory in a Men’s T20 World Cup (joining Oman, who did it against PNG in 2021).
The Powerplay Blitz: Italy reached their 50 in just 4 overs, marking one of the fastest team half-centuries in the tournament’s history.
Lamichhane’s Rare Off-Day: Nepal’s star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane went wicketless and conceded 31 runs—his most expensive Powerplay-affected spell in T20 World Cup history.
Miserly Manenti: Ben Manenti’s spell of
Innings Breakdown
First Innings: The Spin Trap and Nepal's Batting Implosion
The first chapter of the Italy vs Nepal T20 World Cup 2026 saga saw Italy’s bowlers execute a flawless plan. Ben Manenti set an elite tone, bowling 18 dot balls in a miserly spell that frustrated the Nepalese openers. However, the definitive blow came from Crishan Kalugamage, whose wrong’un accounted for the dangerous Dipendra Singh Airee (17). Nepal suffered a late-innings collapse, losing their final five wickets for just 21 runs. The innings ended in chaos with a direct-hit run-out from Harry Manenti, leaving Nepal with a sub-par 123.
Second Innings: The Mosca "Brothers of Destruction"
Italy’s chase in the Italy vs Nepal T20 World Cup 2026 was a record-breaking blitz that rendered Nepal’s world-class spinner Sandeep Lamichhane ineffective. The Mosca brothers shared an unbeaten 124-run stand—the highest ever by siblings in T20 World Cup history. Anthony Mosca was the primary aggressor, smashing 62 off 32 balls* with six massive sixes. Justin Mosca was equally clinical, reaching his fifty in 37 balls to finish on 60 off 44*. They reached the target in the 13th over, securing the win with a staggering 44 balls remaining.
Key Moments & Turning Points - The 4th Over Explosion
The definitive turning point occurred in the 4th over of the Italian chase. Italy was already off to a fluent start, but the Mosca brothers took 20 runs off Lalit Rajbanshi in a single over. That explosion shifted the win probability entirely to Italy and demoralized the Nepal bowling attack before their primary spinner, Sandeep Lamichhane, was even introduced into the attack.
Match Highlights
Top Performers
Crishan Kalugamage (3/18 off 4 overs) - Player of the Match
The Sri Lankan-born leg-spinner was the tactical MVP. Kalugamage’s ability to find grip on a batting-friendly surface was elite, picking up three crucial middle-order wickets to ensure Nepal never reached a competitive total. His deceptive wrong’un was the highlight of the innings, proving too much for the Nepal veterans.
Anthony Mosca (62 off 32 balls) - The Enforcer
Anthony provided the “shock and awe” Italy needed to silence the crowd. His strike rate of 193.75 effectively ended the contest in the Powerplay (68/0). By launching five sixes within the first 10 overs, he demoralized the Nepalese bowlers and simplified the chase for his younger brother.
Justin Mosca (60 off 44 balls) - The Anchor
While his brother provided the fireworks, Justin ensured the victory was risk-free. He played with a strike rate of 136.36, hitting five fours and three sixes. His composure against Sandeep Lamichhane was a highlight, showing that Italy’s batters have adjusted quickly to sub-continent conditions.
How long is Mitchell Marsh ruled out after the injury against Ireland?
Mitchell Marsh sustained a direct blow to the groin during training, resulting in internal testicular bleeding. He has been officially ruled out of the Ireland and Canada games. Australian team doctors are hopeful he can return for the Super 8s, but Steve Smith has been called up as cover in the squad just in case.
What does the historic Italy win over Nepal mean for the Group C points table?
This 10-wicket victory has skyrocketed Italy’s Net Run Rate to -0.352, moving them to 3rd place in Group C and overtaking England (-0.650). Italy is now officially the dark horse of the group. If they can pull off another miracle against England on February 16, they could realistically challenge for a Super 8 spot. For Nepal, back-to-back losses mean their qualification hopes are now hanging by a thread, requiring massive wins in their final two games.
T20 World Cup 2026 Group C Points Table
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