T20 World Cup 2026: Kalugamage and Manenti Spin Italy to Historic Bowlgate as Nepal Stalled at 123
MUMBAI – In a stunning tactical masterclass at the Wankhede Stadium, Italy’s spin trio orchestrated a memorable bowling performance to bowl out tournament favourites Nepal for just 123 runs in the 17th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 .
Playing in only their second World Cup fixture, the Italians—led by stand-in captain Harry Manenti—exploited the dry Mumbai surface to perfection. Leg-spinner Crishan Kalugamage returned career-best figures of 3-18, while off-spinner Ben Manenti delivered a mesmerising spell of 2-9 to strangle the Nepalese batting line-up .
This was the first-ever T20 International meeting between the two nations, and Italy ensured it would be one to remember .
Toss: Italy’s Brave Call to Bowl First
Italy won the toss and elected to field first—a decision that raised eyebrows given Nepal’s recent heroics against England. However, stand-in skipper Harry Manenti, deputising for the injured Wayne Madsen (dislocated shoulder), backed his spinners to exploit the conditions .
“Our focus has been bravery. We’re the outsiders, but we believe in our abilities,” Manenti said at the toss .
Nepal captain Rohit Paudel admitted he would have bowled first as well, acknowledging that the pitch tends to assist spin in the second innings .
Italy’s Spin Web: Kalugamage & Manenti Run Riot
Shock Early Blow: Bhurtel Falls
Nepal’s innings never gained lift-off. Italy opened the bowling with spin from both ends—an audacious tactic that immediately paid dividends. Benjamin Manenti bowled a miserly first over, conceding just one wide .
In the second over, left-arm spinner Ali Hasan struck. Opener Kushal Bhurtel, who struggled to time the ball, edged to Justin Mosca at cover and departed for a sluggish 5 off 10 balls .
Paudel and Aasif Counter, But Italy Strike Back
Skipper Rohit Paudel (23 off 14, 2 sixes) and Aasif Sheikh (20 off 20) launched a brief counter-attack, adding 41 runs in just 30 balls. Paudel looked menacing, but Crishan Kalugamage had the last laugh, dismissing him caught by Grant Stewart at wide long-on .
Just three balls later, Ben Manenti trapped Aasif Sheikh stumped. Keeper Gian Meade whipped the bails off in a flash as Sheikh overbalanced. From 49/1, Nepal were suddenly 49/3 .
Middle Order Collapse
Dipendra Singh Airee (17 off 18) and Aarif Sheikh (27 off 24) attempted a rebuild with a 41-run stand. However, just as they looked to accelerate, Kalugamage struck again, bowling Airee with a googly .
Lokesh Bam, the hero against England, fell for just 3 runs, caught by Anthony Mosca off Ben Manenti’s bowling .
Death Overs: Karan KC’s Late Flourish
Nepal limped past 100 in the 16th over. Karan KC provided the only late spark, smashing 14 runs off an over from Ali Hasan, including a straight six and a four . He remained unbeaten on 18 off 11 balls, but ran out of partners.
The innings ended in chaos. Sandeep Lamichhane was caught in the deep off Jaspreet Singh, and Lalit Rajbanshi was run out via a direct hit from Harry Manenti on the penultimate ball . Nepal were all out for 123 in 19.3 overs.
Bowling Heroes: Italy’s Trio of Terror
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crishan Kalugamage | 4 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 4.50 |
| Ben Manenti | 4 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2.25 |
| JJ Smuts | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Ali Hasan | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Jaspreet Singh | 1.3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 5.33 |
Key Bowling Highlights:
Ben Manenti’s 2/9 is the most economical spell by an Italian bowler in T20 World Cup history .
Crishan Kalugamage dismantled Nepal’s middle order with pinpoint leg-spin .
Italy’s spinners bowled 11 of the 19.3 overs, conceding just 63 runs and taking 6 wickets .
Nepal’s Batting Report Card: A Day to Forget
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel | 5 | 10 | 1/0 | 50.00 | c Mosca b Hasan |
| Aasif Sheikh | 20 | 20 | 2/0 | 100.00 | st Meade b B Manenti |
| Rohit Paudel | 23 | 14 | 0/2 | 164.29 | c Stewart b Kalugamage |
| Dipendra Airee | 17 | 18 | 0/0 | 94.44 | b Kalugamage |
| Aarif Sheikh | 27 | 24 | 3/0 | 118.18 | c sub b Hasan? (verify) |
| Lokesh Bam | 3 | 5 | 0/0 | 60.00 | c A Mosca b B Manenti |
| Gulsan Jha | 3 | 4 | 0/0 | 75.00 | c H Manenti b Kalugamage |
| Karan KC | 18* | 11 | 1/1 | 163.64 | not out |
| Nandan Yadav | 0 | 2 | 0/0 | 0.00 | run out |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | 5 | 7 | 0/0 | 71.42 | c H Manenti b Jaspreet |
| Lalit Rajbanshi | 0 | 2 | 0/0 | 0.00 | run out |
| Extras | 2 | - | - | - | (wides) |
Verdict: Only two batters crossed 20. No partnerships beyond 41. Nepal failed to rotate strike against spin and lost 7 wickets for 74 runs in the middle overs .
Group C Implications: Door Ajar for Italy, Nepal in Danger
This result throws Group C wide open.
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +2.450 |
| England | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.800 |
| Italy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.200 |
| Nepal | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.200 |
| Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +2.400 |
Nepal (0 points): After pushing England to the brink, this limp display leaves them staring at early elimination. They must win their remaining matches and rely on other results .
Italy (2 points): Their first win of the tournament keeps Super Eights hopes alive. The bowling attack has suddenly found teeth .
England & West Indies remain favourites, but Italy are no longer pushovers.
“Underwhelming batting display. This is not the Nepal we saw against England,” observed India Today .
What’s Next?
Nepal face Scotland at Wankhede on February 15. It is a must-win game to stay alive .
Italy take on West Indies on February 17, aiming to pull off another upset.
Key Records & Takeaways
Final Word: Italy’s Braveheart Moment
This was not just an upset—it was a statement. Italy, ranked 24th in the world, walked onto the same pitch where England and West Indies battled days earlier and out-bowled a fancied Asian side.
They read the pitch, trusted their spinners, and held their nerve in the field. The run-out of Rajbanshi by Manenti was symbolic of their intensity .
For Nepal, the script flipped cruelly. From nearly beating England to being bowled out for 123 by Italy, the margin for error is now zero. Their famed spin attack—led by Sandeep Lamichhane—will need to defend 123, but the damage may already be done.
Can Nepal bounce back? Or will Italy’s spinners script another miracle?
The T20 World Cup 2026 continues to deliver drama at Wankhede.
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