Brothers Justin Mosca and Anthony Mosca have fun after a dominating 10-wicket victory. Photograph: AFP
MUMBAI:
Spinners Crishan Kalugamage and Ben Manenti helped debutants Italy to a historic first win on the cricket T20 World Cup with a 10-wicket hammering of Nepal on Thursday.
Kalugamage (3-18) and Manenti (2-9) mixed to bowl out Nepal for 123, a complete Italy’s openers overhauled with 44 balls to spare of their second match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Brothers Justin Mosca, who made 60, and Anthony Mosca, who hit 62, tore into the opposition assault with fours and sixes to fireplace their staff to a win.
A nation higher recognized for its soccer, Italy are cricket minnows and the lowest-ranked facet within the 20-team match.
They misplaced their opener to Scotland in Group C however bounced again.
Nepal had been a far cry from the staff that ran England shut on Sunday on the identical venue as they collapsed from 93-3 to be bundled out in 19.3 overs.
“It is fairly extraordinary actually. It is one thing lots of people in Italy, lots of people on this group, have dreamed of,” Italy’s stand-in skipper Harry Manenti mentioned.
“We did not fairly nail it the opposite day however we backed up at the moment and confirmed the world what we have got.”
Italy had been with out skipper Wayne Madsen, who dislocated his shoulder within the first loss, however got here out roaring after they gained the toss and elected to discipline first.
Leg-spinner Kalugamage despatched again skipper Rohit Paudel for 23 and Manenti, who opened the bowling assault, took down Aasif Sheikh, for 20, together with his off-spin.
“I at all times wished to assist the staff to win a match and do my finest for my nation, Italy — I am joyful,” participant of the match Kalugamage mentioned. “These are my brothers. I am actually joyful.”
Aarif Sheikh tried to rebuild in 27 however Italy bowlers had been unrelenting of their pursuit of wickets and the Nepal batting got here crashing down.
“We should be extra constant and at the moment was the day to show that, however not taking away the credit score from Italy,” mentioned Paudel. “They performed rather well at the moment and credit score should go to them.”
The Mosca brothers then struck eight fours and 9 sixes between them to depart the Nepal bowlers in agony.
The win made Italy leap to 3rd and England slip to fourth within the group led by the West Indies.
Sri Lanka thrash Oman
Dasun Shanaka hammered the quickest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is because the co-hosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs on the World Cup on Thursday in Pallekele for his or her second win in Group B.
The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the best complete of the match, earlier than proscribing an outclassed Oman to 120-9.
The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to turn out to be the oldest participant to attain a fifty in T20 World Cups.
Having promoted himself up the order and below strain to ship, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century.
It has been a bruising few months for the out-of-form Shanaka since reclaiming the captaincy late final 12 months.
However on a batting-friendly pitch he smacked the Oman bowlers to all corners of the park, peppering the stands with 5 sixes and two fours.
Earlier than that, Pavan Rathnayake and Kusal Mendis laid the inspiration because the pair every posted fluent half-centuries, stitching collectively a 94-run stand for the third wicket.
“After the final recreation, the way by which I used to be dismissed, it was disappointing,” Rathnayake mentioned.
“I wished to make it depend at the moment, and glad I used to be in a position to rating a half-century. Pallekele is at all times good for batting and I loved the outing. Extra importantly, the staff is yet one more step nearer to the second spherical.”
As soon as the platform was set, Kamindu Mendis utilized the ending touches.
Recent from his match-turning cameo within the win over Eire, the left-hander scored an unbeaten 19 off simply seven deliveries, placing one 4 and two sixes.
Oman had been by no means actually within the recreation as they fell to a second defeat on the match.
Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana shared the brand new ball with Dushmantha Chameera they usually accounted for 2 wickets apiece.
“We’re a greater facet than what we confirmed at the moment,” mentioned Nadeem.
“On this pitch we should always have stored them for 180, however 225 was an excessive amount of. We have now had two dangerous video games now and it feels disappointing.”
