The Italy vs Scotland highlights from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 tell a powerful story of ambition, dominance, and a landmark victory. On a lively February evening at the iconic Eden Gardens, Scotland produced a complete all-round performance to defeat Italy convincingly, registering their first-ever win of the tournament and sending a strong message to the rest of the competition.
Italy, playing their maiden senior men’s T20 World Cup match, showed flashes of promise but ultimately fell short against a disciplined and ruthless Scottish side. Chasing a stiff target of 208 runs, Italy were bowled out for 134 in just 16.4 overs, handing Scotland a commanding victory and a perfect start to their World Cup campaign.
This detailed match report covers everything—from toss to final wicket—along with full scorecards, key moments, player performances, tactical insights, and what the result means for both teams going forward.
Match Overview: ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Italy vs Scotland
| Match | Italy vs Scotland |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Date | 9 February 2026 |
| Toss | Italy won the toss, chose to bowl |
| Result | Scotland won by 73 runs |
| Player of the Match | Michael Leask |
Scotland’s decision to attack from ball one paid rich dividends, while Italy’s bowling lacked consistency during key phases of the match. The gulf in experience between the two sides became evident as the game progressed.
Toss and Team Strategy
Italy captain Wayne Madsen won the toss and opted to field first, hoping early movement under lights would help his bowlers restrict Scotland. However, the decision backfired as Scotland’s openers came out with aggressive intent and never allowed Italy to settle.
Scotland, aware of Eden Gardens’ batting-friendly surface, aimed to post a big total and put pressure on Italy’s inexperienced batting lineup. Their plan worked to perfection.
Scotland Innings: Explosive Start Sets the Tone
Scotland’s innings was anchored by a sensational opening partnership that laid the foundation for a massive total.
Powerplay Dominance
George Munsey and Michael Jones started briskly, punishing anything loose. Italy’s bowlers struggled with line and length, allowing Scotland to race to 39 without loss after five overs.
By the end of 10 overs, Scotland were cruising at 91/0, firmly in control of the contest.
Key Batting Performances for Scotland
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Munsey | 84 | 54 | Aggressive stroke play, match-defining knock |
| Michael Jones | 37 | 28 | Solid support at the top |
| Brandon McMullen | 41 | 26 | Powerful middle-order acceleration |
| Richie Berrington | 15 | 10 | Handy contribution |
| Tom Bruce | 1 | 3 | Short stay |
| Michael Leask | 22 | 9 | Late-innings flourish |
Munsey was eventually dismissed for a superb 84, but by then the damage had already been done. Scotland continued to score freely, finishing on 207/4 in 20 overs, a daunting total by any standard.
Italy Bowling Performance: Effort Without Control
Italy’s bowlers showed heart but lacked penetration and consistency, especially in the middle overs.
Italy Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Hassan | 4 | 21 | 1 |
| Grant Stewart | 4 | 44 | 1 |
| Thomas Draca | 4 | 37 | 1 |
| JJ Smuts | 4 | 38 | 1 |
| Ben Manenti | 2 | 20 | 0 |
| Harry Manenti | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Krishan Kalugamage | 1 | 32 | 0 |
Despite picking up four wickets, Italy failed to stem the flow of runs, allowing Scotland to maintain a high run rate throughout the innings.
Target Set: Italy Need 208 to Win
At the halfway stage, Scotland were firmly on top. A target of 208 was always going to be a massive challenge for Italy, particularly given their lack of experience at this level.
Italy Innings: A Nightmare Start
Italy’s chase got off to the worst possible start.
Early Collapse
- First ball wicket: Justin Mosca was dismissed on the very first ball by Michael Leask.
- Italy lost three wickets inside the powerplay, struggling to cope with Scotland’s disciplined bowling attack.
Anthony Mosca tried to steady the innings but scored at a slow pace, managing just 13 runs from 12 balls before being dismissed.
Brief Resistance from the Manenti Brothers
Harry Manenti and Ben Manenti provided some hope with a counter-attacking partnership.
- Harry Manenti scored 37 runs, showing intent and clean hitting.
- Ben Manenti top-scored for Italy with a fighting 52.
For a brief period, Italy crossed the 100-run mark and looked to rebuild. However, once the partnership was broken, the innings collapsed rapidly.
Italy Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Justin Mosca | 0 |
| Anthony Mosca | 13 |
| JJ Smuts | 22 |
| Harry Manenti | 37 |
| Ben Manenti | 52 |
| Grant Stewart | 2 |
| Gian Meade (wk) | 0 |
| Krishan Kalugamage | 3 |
| Thomas Draca | 2 |
| Ali Hassan | 0 |
| Wayne Madsen (c) | 0 |
Italy were bowled out for 134 in 16.4 overs, falling 73 runs short of the target.
Scotland Bowling: Michael Leask Leads the Charge
Scotland’s bowlers were outstanding, applying pressure from both ends and exploiting Italy’s mistakes.
Scotland Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Leask | 17 | 4 |
| Brad Currie | 12 | 1 |
| Brad Wheal | 29 | 1 |
| Mark Watt | 24 | 2 |
| Oliver Davidson | 39 | 1 |
| Brandon McMullen | 13 | 0 |
Michael Leask was the standout performer, claiming 4 wickets for just 17 runs, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Turning Points of the Match
- First-ball wicket of Justin Mosca shattered Italy’s confidence.
- Munsey’s explosive 84 ensured Scotland crossed 200.
- Leask’s four-wicket spell dismantled Italy’s middle order.
- Loss of the Manenti partnership ended Italy’s hopes of a comeback.
Italy’s Historic World Cup Debut
Despite the heavy defeat, the match marked a historic milestone for Italy, who played their first-ever senior men’s T20 World Cup match. For a nation better known for football, stepping onto the global cricketing stage was an achievement in itself.
Italy showed glimpses of talent, particularly through Ben and Harry Manenti, and will look to learn quickly from this experience.
Playing XIs
Italy Playing XI
Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Wayne Madsen (c), Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Gian Meade (wk), Grant Stewart, Krishan Kalugamage, Ali Hassan, Thomas Draca
Scotland Playing XI
George Munsey, Michael Jones, Brandon McMullen, Richie Berrington (c), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross (wk), Mark Watt, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson, Brad Wheal, Brad Currie
What This Win Means for Scotland
Scotland’s emphatic victory boosts their net run rate and confidence early in the tournament. Their blend of power-hitting, disciplined bowling, and calm leadership makes them a dangerous opponent moving forward.
With this win, Scotland have announced themselves as serious contenders capable of challenging more established teams.
Conclusion:
The Italy vs Scotland highlights underline the contrast between a team announcing its arrival and another taking its first steps on the world stage. Scotland were clinical, confident, and ruthless, while Italy gained invaluable experience despite the defeat.
As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 unfolds, both teams will take important lessons from this encounter—Scotland building momentum, and Italy building belief for the future.