In a thrilling encounter at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, Italy may have fallen short against England in the T20 World Cup 2026, but they etched their name in the record books. Chasing a daunting 203-run target, the Associate nation fought valiantly, posting 178 runs while smashing 13 sixes in their innings. This explosive performance propelled Italy to a joint second place among Associate teams for the most sixes in a single T20 World Cup innings.
Ben Manenti led the charge with a blistering 6 sixes, closely followed by Grant Stewart’s 5 maximums. Captain Harry Manenti and Jasprit Singh each contributed one six, showcasing the team’s aggressive intent against a formidable opponent.
England set the tone earlier, reaching 202 for 7, powered by Will Jacks’ unbeaten 53 off 22 balls, featuring 4 sixes and 3 fours. Tom Banton added 30, Philip Salt 28, and Sam Curran 25, giving Italy a mountain to climb.
In response, Ben Manenti top-scored with 60 off 25 balls, including 10 boundaries. Grant Stewart’s 45 off 23 and Justin Mosca’s 43 kept the chase alive, but Italy ultimately fell 25 runs short. Despite the defeat, their six-hitting prowess stands tall.
This feat places Italy alongside the USA, who hit 13 sixes against Canada in 2024, behind Netherlands’ record 19 against Ireland in 2014. Scotland follows with 12 against Australia in 2024. Italy’s display signals the rising competitiveness of Associate nations on the global stage.