Nepal's World Cup story swung violently from belief to disbelief in the space of four days.
After taking England to the last over, Nepal arrived in Mumbai expecting momentum - but instead delivered a performance that looked flat, frantic, and clueless against an Italy side playing with freedom and clarity. Nepal were bundled out for 123 in 19.3 overs, and Italy then chased the target without losing a wicket, reaching 124/0 in 12.4 overs to win by 10 wickets with 44 balls remaining.
It wasn’t just a defeat. It was a statement - and a historic one. Italy's chase was powered by the Mosca brothers, who stitched an unbeaten 124-run opening stand, reportedly the highest sibling partnership in all T20Is, to complete Italy’s first World Cup victory in style.
Nepal's batting: stuck, slow, and swallowed by spin
Nepal never looked comfortable against the spin and the slowness of the surface. The intent was there early - Nepal reached 46/1 in the powerplay - but once Italy's spinners settled, the innings began to collapse in chunks.
There were very few clear methods to counter the grip and hold: hardly any slog-sweeps, almost no consistent coming down the pitch, and too many mistimed hits that went straight into waiting hands. Italy's bowlers didn’t just take wickets - they pulled Nepal into panic.
Nepal's better moments came through Aarif Sheikh (27) and Rohit Paudel (23 off 14), while Karan KC (18 off 11)* added late resistance. But wickets kept falling, and Nepal were eventually all out in 19.3 overs.
Italy’s standout with the ball was Crishan Kalugamage (3/18), backed up superbly by Ben Manenti (2/9) in a spell that squeezed Nepal’s middle overs until the innings cracked.
Nepal’s bowling: no plan, no pressure - and Italy never blinked
If Nepal’s batting was messy, the defence was worse.
Italy exploded out of the blocks with 68/0 in the powerplay, instantly flipping the match into a one-sided chase. Nepal’s bowlers looked short of ideas - no consistent lengths, no clear match-ups, and no visible plan to break the opening stand. Italy kept finding the rope - 9 sixes and 8 fours, with 86 runs in boundaries - and never allowed Nepal to build pressure.
Openers Anthony Mosca (62 off 32) and Justin Mosca (60 off 44) made it a chase with zero drama, dominating both pace and spin to close the match in 12.4 overs.
"It's pretty extraordinary" - Italy captain Harry Manenti
Italy skipper Harry Manenti summed up the scale of the moment after making history:
"It's pretty extraordinary really… It's something a lot of people in Italy, a lot of people in this group, have dreamed of."
He added that Italy responded after failing to "nail it" in their previous match:
"We backed up today and showed the world what we’ve got."
Manenti also spoke about the tight-knit spirit in the camp:
"We enjoy each other’s company… we’ve got brothers in our side… I see it that we have 15 of them."
And on the Mosca brothers’ match-winning stand:
“It’s pretty special to see them dominate on the world stage today.”
Player of the Match: Kalugamage leads Italy’s moment
Player of the match Crishan Kalugamage delivered a direct, emotional reaction:
“I always wanted to help the team to win a match and do my best for my nation, Italy. I’m happy. These are my brothers.”
He then addressed viewers back home in Italian, urging them to take up cricket - the kind of World Cup moment that turns a win into a movement.
Group impact: Italy jump to third
The result doesn’t just lift Italy emotionally - it lifts them on the table too. Italy’s win pushed them up to third in Group C, knocking England down to fourth — a twist that suddenly reshapes the group’s pressure points.
