KOLKATA — Scotland opened their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 73-run victory over debutants Italy at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday, dealing a significant blow to Italy’s maiden appearance in the tournament.
Scotland posted a commanding total of 207 for 4, led by an aggressive half-century from George Munsey, who scored 84 runs to anchor the innings and set the platform for a big team score. Michael Leask also made a match-winning contribution with both bat and ball, including a four-wicket haul that dismantled Italy’s batting lineup.
Italy, playing their first match in a senior ICC World Cup, struggled in the chase and were dismissed well short of the target. The Azzurri were dealt an early setback when captain Wayne Madsen left the field with a shoulder injury, further complicating their efforts on a challenging day at the iconic venue.
Match summary
Italy won the toss and elected to field first in their T20 World Cup debut. Scotland’s top order capitalized, assembling a high total on a batting-friendly surface. In response, Italy showed determination but lacked the firepower to stay with the required run rate, eventually being bowled out well below par.
Context and significance
The Group C fixture was the first T20 World Cup match for Italy, who qualified for the tournament through the Europe regional qualifiers. Scotland entered the match looking to bounce back after their earlier defeat in the tournament and made a strong statement with this victory at one of cricket’s most famous grounds.
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