In a landmark day for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the cricketing landscape shifted as debutants Italy registered a historic maiden victory, while co-hosts India and Sri Lanka both secured clinical wins to maintain their perfect starts to the tournament. The action across Mumbai, Delhi, and Kandy showcased the expanding reach of the game, with Associate nations and established giants alike rewriting the record books.
Italy seal historic win
Italy created history at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, defeating Nepal by 10 wickets to secure their first-ever win in a Men’s World Cup match. Coming off a loss in their opener, the Azzurri arrived with a point to prove, determined to show they were more than just participants. In a clinical display of bowling and fielding, Italy dismantled the Nepal lineup, dismissing them for a modest 123.
The chase was nothing short of a masterclass in aggression and composure. Italy’s opening pair, the Mosca brothers, dismantled the Nepal attack with surgical precision. Anthony Mosca led the charge with a blazing 62* off just 32 balls, including six sixes, while his brother Justin Mosca provided perfect support with an unbeaten 60* off 44 deliveries. Their 124-run stand not only secured the victory with 7.2 overs to spare but also set a new World Cup record for the highest partnership between siblings. This flawless performance marked Italy as only the second non-British European team, after the Netherlands, to win a T20 World Cup match, signaling a new era for Italian cricket.
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Sri Lanka hit World Cup 2026 high against Oman
Meanwhile, in Kandy, co-hosts Sri Lanka laid down a massive marker for the rest of the field with a dominant 105-run victory over Oman. After being put in to bat, the Sri Lankan top order found their rhythm on a favorable batting surface. While they lost early wickets, the middle order responded with a display of pure power-hitting. Pavan Rathnayake was the standout performer, smashing 60 runs off 28 balls, a knock that featured eight boundaries and a towering six.
The momentum was carried forward by captain Dasun Shanaka, who entered the fray and immediately took the game away from Oman. Shanaka reached his half-century in a record-breaking 19 balls—the fastest ever by a Sri Lankan in T20 World Cup history. Supported by an assured 61 from Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka finished with a staggering 225/5, the highest total recorded in the 2026 edition so far. Oman’s chase never truly ignited against a disciplined Lankan attack, as they were restricted to 120/9. The only bright spot for the visitors was 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem, who became the oldest player to score a half-century in the tournament’s history with an unbeaten 53.
India march to convincing win
In the nation’s capital, defending champions and co-hosts India continued their winning streak with a comprehensive 93-run win against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, India’s powerhouse lineup flexed its muscles to post a formidable 209/9. Ishan Kishan was the primary aggressor, smashing 61 runs off 29 balls, while Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (52 off 28) ensured the run rate remained high throughout the innings.
Despite a valiant effort from Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus, who claimed 4/20 to trigger a late-innings collapse, the target proved too steep for the associate side. India’s bowling unit, led by the returning Jasprit Bumrah and the clinical Varun Chakravarthy, squeezed the Namibian batters from the start. Namibia struggled to find any rhythm under the lights, eventually falling well short of the target. For India, the victory was a perfect “tune-up” as they looked ahead to their highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, while for the tournament at large, the day served as a reminder of the gap between the top-tier nations and the chasing pack, even as teams like Italy prove that the gap is slowly closing.
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