In a nail-biting encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Italy secured a thrilling 10-run victory over Canada in the third warm-up match for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Batting first after losing the toss, Italy posted a competitive total of 156 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs, setting up a tense chase that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The Italian innings kicked off with a solid opening stand between Justin Mosca and Anthony Mosca, who stitched together a brisk 45-run partnership in just 5.3 overs. Anthony fell for 22 off 20 balls, smashing three boundaries, while Justin contributed an equally aggressive 22 from 17 deliveries, including a six and two fours. Their departure brought captain Wayne Madsen to the crease, but it was JJ Smuts who took charge, anchoring the innings with a gritty 49 off 37 balls, laced with six boundaries.
Smuts first partnered with Madsen for 33 runs before Madsen was dismissed for 10. He then added a crucial 41 with Harry Manenti, who remained unbeaten on 33 from 24 balls. Canada’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Kaleem Sana, Dilpreet Bajwa, Jaskaran Singh, and Saad Bin Zafar each claiming a wicket.
Chasing 157, Canada started strongly with openers Yuvraj Singh and captain Dilpreet Bajwa putting on 55 runs in 6.4 overs. Yuvraj’s explosive 33 off 23 balls, featuring five fours and a six, ended abruptly, but Bajwa carried on, adding 30 more with Navneet Dhaliwal to reach 85. Bajwa top-scored with 37 from 34 balls, including six boundaries, before Nicholas Kirton added a valiant 33. However, despite their efforts, Canada finished at 146 for 6, falling short by 10 runs.
Italy’s bowlers struck back effectively, with Thomas Draca, Ali Hassan, Grant Stewart, JJ Smuts, and Ben Manenti each picking up one wicket. This hard-fought win boosts Italy’s confidence as they gear up for their next warm-up against UAE on February 6 at the same venue. The T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers kick off on February 7, promising more high-stakes cricket.