In a stunning collapse at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Italy suffered a humiliating 73-run defeat to Scotland in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers on February 9. Chasing a mammoth 208, Italy were bowled out for just 134 in 16.4 overs, with their final five wickets tumbling in a chaotic 17-ball spell that left fans and pundits alike in disbelief.
Italy’s innings got off to the worst possible start when opener Justin Mosca was dismissed off the very first ball of the chase. From there, it was a procession of wickets, with the middle order offering little resistance. Captain Wayne Madsen, sidelined by injury, could only watch from the sidelines as his team unraveled.
The lone bright spot was a gritty 73-run fourth-wicket stand between Harry Manenti and Ben Manenti. Harry smashed 37 off 25 balls, including three sixes and a four, while Ben top-scored with a fluent 52 from 31 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and a maximum. But once that partnership broke, Italy’s innings imploded spectacularly.
Scotland’s bowlers, led by the exceptional Michael Leask, orchestrated the downfall. Leask returned dream figures of 4-17 from his four overs, dismantling the lower order with ruthless precision. Mark Watt chipped in with 2-24, while Brad Currie, Brad Wheel, and Oliver Davidson each claimed a wicket.
Earlier, Scotland had posted 207-4 after being put in to bat. George Munsey’s explosive 84 off 54 balls, featuring 13 fours and two sixes, set the tone. Michael Jones added 37, while Brandon McMullen (41*) and Leask (22*) unleashed a late onslaught with multiple sixes to propel the score beyond 200.
Leask’s all-round brilliance earned him the Player of the Match award, as Scotland kicked off their campaign with a statement victory. For Italy, this batting meltdown serves as a harsh wake-up call ahead of their remaining group games.