KOLKATA: In a high-octane start to their T20 World Cup campaign, Scotland unleashed a batting blitzkrieg against Italy at Eden Gardens, setting a daunting target of 208 runs for just four wickets. Italy, making their World Cup debut, won the toss and opted to bowl first in this Group C clash, but their bowlers were left chasing shadows as Scotland’s openers laid the foundation for a massive total.
George Munsey and Michael Jones forged a formidable 126-run partnership for the first wicket off 13.5 overs, silencing the Italian attack early on. Munsey, the architect of the innings, smashed a blistering 84 off 54 balls, peppering the boundary with 13 fours and 2 sixes before departing. Jones contributed a solid 37 from 30 deliveries, providing the perfect platform.
With the momentum firmly in their camp, Brandon McMullen and Michael Leask took over in the death overs, turning the screw on Italy’s bowlers. McMullen remained unbeaten on 41 from just 18 balls, including four massive sixes, while Leask bludgeoned an unbeaten 22 off 5 balls with two fours and two sixes. Their fireworks propelled Scotland to 207/4 in 20 overs.
Captain Richie Berrington scored 15, and Tom Bruce managed 1 as the middle order provided stability. For Italy, Ali Hassan was the standout bowler with figures of 1/21 from four overs, proving the most economical. Grant Stewart leaked 44 runs without a wicket, highlighting Italy’s struggles.
Fresh off a recent win over Ireland, Italy now faces a steep chase. Cricket pundits will watch closely to see if their batsmen can rise to the occasion against Scotland’s disciplined attack. This match promises edge-of-the-seat action as both teams vie for crucial points in the tournament.