Thursday proved to be a historic day for cricket and for Italy, as the Azzurri showed world cricket exactly what they are all about with a thumping victory over Nepal for their first taste of success at an ICC T20 World Cup.
Italy bowled out Nepal for 123 thanks to spinners led by Crishan Kalugamage taking three wickets, before their pair of opening-batting brothers Anthony Mosca and Justin Mosca made light work of the chase, hammering an unbeaten partnership at the top as the team won with all 10 wickets in hand and 44 balls to spare.
Italy’s convincing first win earned them plaudits from many, not just for the fact of the win but the fearless and exuberant style that got them there. Prime amongst these, with words that might mean a lot to this spirited team, was Sachin Tendulkar.
The Indian cricket legend took to his social media account on X to share words of credit with the Italian players, commending their display and pointing out how such a showing would be one to be proud of in a country that prides itself on football.
Tendulkar congratulates Italy
“Congratulations to Italy on their first-ever T20 World Cup win, and in such commanding fashion!” wrote Tendulkar on X, full of praise for how Italy were able to control the match from the very first over and right through to the end.
“A proud footballing nation making its mark in cricket reminds us how beautifully the game is spreading across the globe,” he concluded, giving Italy their flowers for emerging from the cricketing wilderness and establishing themselves with such a result.
The power-hitting and ruthlessness showed by the Moscas also had a tangible effect on the shape of Group C. Despite a heavy loss to Scotland in their opener, this result went a fair way towards regaining some of that lost net run-rate – in fact, enough to overtake England in the group, with the Italians now in third.
With tough games to go against West Indies and England themselves, Italy will need to derive a lot of momentum and confidence from this kind of showing, but they have certainly laid the foundation for what could prove to be one of the best sporting stories of this World Cup.
