
T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier: Italy stuns Scotland to move closer to qualification
With the win, Italy temporarily leads the points table with two wins and a no result in its three games so far, two ahead of Jersey and Scotland.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, opener Emilio Gay scored a 21-ball half-century with able support from Harry Manenti (38 from 38 balls) and a late cameo from Grant Stewart (44 from 27 balls).
Opener George Munsey's 61-ball 72 set Scotland on its way in the chase of 168, but Manenti's five-wicket haul restricted Richie Berrington's side to 155 for five at the end of its 20 overs.
Italy, led by former Australian Test opener Joe Burns, will take on the Netherlands in its final group game on July 11. The Italians can seal their place in the 2026 World Cup with a win in its final game. If the team fails to add any more points to its tally, its progress will come down to Net Run Rate, with Jersey and Scotland taking on each other in their final game.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Forza Azzurri! Australian Burns Finds Identity As Italy Create History
Last Updated: Regardless of what happens in the event, Italian cricket team's legacy is already set as first-time entrants to the global event. Joe Burns' career seemed to be going nowhere when Queensland left him out of their contracted players' list in April 2024. This was a tough blow for the Australian, who was already grieving the tragic death of his brother in February that year. In an emotional Instagram post, Burns confessed that it was a 'daily battle that I often lose." However, sports often offer small escape routes to those truly dedicated, and for Burns, it came through his connection to Italy via his mother's heritage. This was a blessing for both Burns and Italy, who qualified for their first ICC World Cup by securing a spot in next year's T20 event in India and Sri Lanka on Friday. 'I don't think words will ever describe emotions to this team and to this country. Sacrifice, dedication and commitment to a dream — we have walked this path into the unknown together to tour the first World Cup," Burns wrote on his Instagram wall shortly after the team's qualification. Burns' emotions were genuine. This opportunity allowed him to continue his association with top-level cricket and provided Italy with a world-class professional who had significant experience in international and highly competitive Australian domestic cricket. Burns Starts New Journey With Italy Italy quickly appointed Burns as their captain in their effort to qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 through the European sub-regional Qualifiers. In the group stage, the team was grouped with France, Isle of Man, Luxembourg, and Turkey. It was a big dream for a team that played its first T20 International in 2019 against Germany. Despite a lack of pedigree and resources, they dared to dream. They started strong with a 77-run win over Luxembourg in Rome and followed it with a five-wicket victory over France and a seven-wicket win against Isle of Man. The nine-wicket win over Turkey propelled them to the final against Romania, which they won by a massive 160-run margin in June 2024. Burns made a lasting impact in that victory with a 108 off 55 balls. This powered Italy to the ICC European Qualifiers, where they were grouped with Netherlands, Scotland, Jersey, and Guernsey. They began with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Guernsey and outclassed Scotland by 12 runs. An abandoned match against Jersey gave them a point, which, combined with a superior net run rate, allowed Italy to overcome the nine-wicket defeat against Netherlands in the last league match on Friday and qualify for the ICC event to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. It was a moment of catharsis for Italy and Burns. The Azzurri have delicate cricket connections, as AC Milan Cricket and Football clubs were founded by an Englishman – Herbert Kilpin – in 1899. Former Italian and Inter Milan forward Cristian Vieri was a cricket enthusiast during his school days in Australia and often spoke passionately about the sport. Italian Cricket's Identity But now, Italian cricket has an identity of its own. Burns' mention of walking together in his Instagram post was not a mere fancy tribute. This Italian team is indeed a mix of cultures. Burns is an Australian, as are Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, and Grant Stewart. Emilio Gay, who was part of the England Lions against India A, and Marcus Campopiano came from England. There cannot be an Associate cricket team without a touch of the subcontinent, and thus Italy has Jaspreet Singh, who is from Punjab, and Crishan Priyantha Kalugamage, who has Sri Lankan roots. Justin and Anthony Mosca add some Italian flavour. 'I hope this team can be a beacon for everyone to connect through family, through sport and through a shared story," an emotional Burns penned. But Italy needs to overcome more accomplished rivals in the World Cup next year to add more chapters to an already incredible story. 'I think it's coming together, the confidence is high in the group and we've got some very experienced players in the team, experience from all over the world as well," the team's assistant coach Kevin O'Brien, a former Ireland player, told ICC. Regardless of what happens in the event, this team's legacy is already set as first-time entrants to the global event. They are no longer the unknowns. They are confident competitors in a field dominated by the big boys. Burns can lead the side with pride, having set aside a crushing personal trauma to find a new purpose in life and career. He knows it. 'Many of those who walk with us forever be proud. Without them, we never have dared to dream. This is our legacy," he wrote. Forza Azzurri! With PTI Inputs About the Author Cricketnext Staff A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that's cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext Get latest Cricket news, live score and match results on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : icc ICC T20 World Cup ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Italy cricket team joe burns view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 12, 2025, 14:07 IST News cricket Forza Azzurri! Australian Burns Finds Identity As Italy Create History Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘He destroyed me': Nick Kyrgios reveals how his Beijing revenge plot involved forging Rafa Nadal's signature on hotel bills
Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios weren't the best of buddies during their time together on tour. The mercurial Australian had even opened up last year on why Nadal's inimitable perseverance and talent made him idolise and despise the Spaniard at the same time. The 30-year-old Kyrgios recently revealed one such instance when his volatile emotions had probably gone a tad overboard after a feisty encounter in the 2017 Beijing Open in China. Shortly after thwarting Nadal at the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals in straight sets that year, Krygios waltzed to the final in the Beijing hard courts, facing up for his fourth clash against Nadal since winning their first meeting at 2014 Wimbledon. Kyrios could not bear the outcome of that night. A devastating 6-2, 6-1 defeat to Nadal was so brutal that he had a straight shot back at his legendary opponent after checking in at the hotel. 'He beat me in the final of Beijing, and he destroyed me. I was having a really good week, finals of Beijing, pretty big tournament,' Kyrgios said. 'I get destroyed by Nadal. Having a couple of wines that night, having a couple of drinks with my boys. I was like, 'You know what? This guy just destroyed me, probably earned over $1million that week.' Kyrgios went further, revealing how he jotted down Nadal's signature on the bills. 'I was like, 'You know what? I'm going to put all of my room service…' It was actually in a hotel restaurant, I just put it on Nadal's room and I just signed it as Nadal,' Krygios said with a chuckle. Kyrgios, however, made it clear that he wasn't seeking an apology from the 22-time Grand Slam champion who's made USD 134,946,100 in career prize money, the second-highest in men's tennis, only behind Novak Djokovic. 'The waitress had no idea so to this day, I'm sorry Rafa, if you got this outstanding couple grand bill from me. 'I'm sorry… Actually, I'm not sorry at all, you've earned way too much cash in your career.' 🤦♂️ 'Nadal beat me in Beijing & he destroyed me.' 👀 'I had a couple of wines… I put it all on his room.' 🤣 'I'm sorry… actually I'm not sorry!' Nick Kyrgios reveals this wild story about Rafa Nadal and his hotel room bill 😳 — talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 10, 2025 In December 2024, Kyrgios had recollected how Nadal's energies brought out the best in him. In nine of their completed contests, Kyrgios ended up trumping Nadal on three occasions while their last slated contest in the 2022 Wimbledon semi-final ended with Nadal opting out due to injury. 'I couldn't stand him. I used to hate and despise him so much when I saw him walking around,' Kyrgios had explained on the Nothing Major podcast. 'He was one guy who always motivated me. 'If I played him I would get up for it and try and get the best tennis I could possibly play. I didn't feel that anger towards Roger (Federer) or Novak (Djokovic) when I played them. 'If I played Rafa, because everyone in our academies back home idolised him, they were like he is such a hard worker, he's this and that. I was like 'I can't stand this guy'. I wanted to show people you could just have fun and be chilled and beat people like that.'


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Cricket West Indies echoes Prime Minister Mottleys call for regional unity and purpose to overcome challenges and return to glory
Saint John's [Antigua and Barbuda], July 12 (ANI): Cricket West Indies (CWI) stood in full alignment with the powerful call to action issued by Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, during her stirring address at the CWI and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) Awards Gala held in Barbados, an official statement from the CWI said. Her message to the region was clear: the time has come to confront longstanding challenges in governance, investment, and purpose, and to reignite the fighting spirit that once made West Indies cricket the envy of the world. Drawing a direct comparison between the current landscape of West Indies cricket and the heroic triumph of the 1975 World Cup team - the members of which were honoured during the ceremony - Prime Minister Mottley called on the region to summon that same determination to rise again. "Just as every mountain peak has valleys, we can find the peak again," she said. "As sure that the joy of that 1975 team spread through the region then, it will spread through this region again." Quoting the words of legendary Victorian Poet, Rudyard Kipling, author of the poem "IF" she said "'If we can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters the same', that will define us, not just on the field, but in all that we do." The Barbadian leader referenced this piece of writing as a great lesson in how to approach life, citing additional exerts - "'If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings - nor loose the common you can make one heap of all your winnings and risk it in on one turn of pitch-and-toss, and lose, and start again at your beginnings and never breathe a word about your loss'. What I am really saying is that we have a responsibility as leaders, as people of the Caribbean, to ensure that those who walk the path to bring honour and glory to us, are given every opportunity to be the best that they can be." She underscored the importance of grassroots development and the urgent need to harness the full breadth of regional talent. "In test cricket, only New Zealand has a population approximate to us, all the other nations have a bigger pool from which to draw their talent. So, if we have a small population and are not maximizing it to the extent where we dig deep into our communities to draw out the talent, then something must be fundamentally wrong with us." she asserted. Speaking then as Chair of CARICOM, Prime Minister Mottley pledged regional support for the continued representation of West Indies cricket on the global stage, particularly regarding cricket's re-entry into the 2028 Olympic Games. "We have already been made a victim of too many instances of poor negotiating. We have now to summon the will to pull the best that we can muster regionally, to make the case for defending our right to retain the integrity of West Indian cricket, which will celebrate 100 years in 2028" she said. "Let us remind the world why these people in these islands continue to rally, and rally, and rally." In speaking directly to the players in attendance, as well as those across the region, she issued a challenge for them to take the lead. "I want the players, male and female, to know that it is not where you stand, but it is always how you rise when adversity hits you, and the way you get up and play the next shot. If you can do that for us, then I believe honestly, that we will rise to the top again." Cricket West Indies remains committed to honouring the legacy of the past while actively working toward a vibrant and united future for West Indies cricket--one driven by purpose, guided by governance, and powered by the resilient spirit of our people.(ANI)