Italy Stuns Nepal, Eyes Big Leap in Cricket

Italy beats Nepal

Italy bounces back from Scotland loss to stun Nepal, defeating them by 10 wickets in T20 World Cup, eyes growth in cricket. Mosca brothers power Italy's historic win over Nepal, targets England next.

“We want other teams to host us and build facilities that host them back and that's our goal as a team...”

Italy is dreaming big after their stunning T20 World Cup win over Nepal. The team, ranked lowest in the 20-team tournament, shocked everyone with a 10-wicket victory, sparking hopes of hosting top-class cricket in Rome, Milan, and Bologna.

Stand-in captain Harry Manenti and his team are ecstatic about the win, hoping it will bring attention to cricket in Italy and create opportunities for young players. “We want other teams to host us and build facilities that host them back,” Manenti said, envisioning a brighter future for Italian cricket.

.

Italy secured their first-ever T20 World Cup win, defeating Nepal by 10 wickets with Justin and Anthony Mosca leading the charge. The Sydney-born brothers put on an unbeaten 124-run partnership, with Anthony scoring 62 off 32 balls and Justin scoring 60 off 44 balls, guiding Italy to victory with over 7 overs to spare.

The emotional win brought tears of joy to some Italian players, marking a historic moment for the team. Italy's spinners, led by Crishan Kalugamage (3/18) and Ben Manenti (2/9), set the stage for the win by restricting Nepal to 123 runs.

Anthony Mosca, 34, hit the winning runs and broke into tears, raising his arms in jubilation. The win meant everything to the Italy team, none of whom were born in the country, but all of whom were united in their passion for cricket.

The emotional moment captured the essence of Italy's incredible underdog story, overcoming odds to triumph in their debut T20 World Cup match.

“I don't think you'll see many players cry on the field after a win in the group stages,” stand-in captain Harry Manenti said.

“I think you've got to appreciate what Italy cricket is bringing to the game, understand that the passion is slightly different with the Italians.

“We will bring that everywhere we go, no matter the level of the tournament or the level of the opposition.”

Italy takes on England next at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, and they're riding high after their shock win. The team's federation is hoping this momentum will help grow cricket in Italy, where football is king.

With around 1,800 players and 100 clubs, Italy's cricket scene is small, and they lack a proper cricket pitch. Captain Harry Manenti hopes their World Cup success will spark change and bring more opportunities to the sport in Italy.

“We want other teams to host us and build facilities that host them back and that's our goal as a team,” said Manenti, whose brother Ben also plays for the side.

“That will provide opportunities for kids who are currently in Italy learning the game at a school level to see us playing in Rome or Milan or Bologna.”

Italy bounced back from a tough opening loss to Scotland, stunning Nepal with a 10-wicket win. Nepal had given England a run for their money just days before, making Italy's victory even sweeter.

History made by Italy as they secured the country's first ever T20 World Cup win with a brilliant chase against Nepal 🇮🇹👏 pic.twitter.com/CGnLuYTARK

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 12, 2026

Skipper Wayne Madsen, who's South Africa-born, missed the win due to a dislocated shoulder from the Scotland match. Coach John Davison thinks Italy's cricket team deserves its moment in the spotlight, especially with the Winter Olympics on.

“This will be front-page news in a lot of countries and a lot of publications in Italy,” said the former Canada captain.

“For us to get that sort of exposure and maybe knock the Winter Olympics off the back page of the sports would be unbelievable for cricket in the country and just bring some attention to us.”