Scotland Register First Win with Dominant All-Round Performance: Scotland secured a convincing 73-run victory over Italy in the 7th Match of Group C of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The match was played today with Italy winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, but Scotland took full control with both bat and ball.
Scotland posted a massive 207/4 in 20 overs, and then bowled Italy out for 134 in 16.4 overs to record one of their biggest wins in T20 World Cup history.
Match Summary
| Result | Scotland won by 73 runs |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 207/4 (20 overs) |
| Italy | 134 all out (16.4 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Michael Leask (4/17 & 22*) |
Munsey’s 84 Sets Up Record Total
Openers George Munsey and Michael Jones gave Scotland the perfect start. The pair added 126 runs for the first wicket, putting Italy under early pressure.
Munsey was the star of the innings, scoring a brilliant 84 off 54 balls, including 13 fours and 2 sixes. He missed a century but laid the foundation for a big total.
Scotland Top Batters
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Munsey | 84 | 54 | 155.56 |
| Michael Jones | 37 | 30 | 123.33 |
| Brandon McMullen* | 41 | 18 | 227.78 |
| Michael Leask* | 22 | 5 | 440.00 |
Late fireworks from McMullen and Leask pushed Scotland past the 200 mark.
This became:
- Scotland’s highest total in T20 World Cups
- Highest total by an Associate team in T20 World Cup history
- First 200+ score of the tournament
Italy Fight Briefly but Collapse Under Pressure
Italy’s chase started badly as they lost a wicket on the first ball. They were reduced to 40/3 inside five overs.
The Manenti brothers provided some resistance. Harry scored 37 and Ben Manenti hit a fighting 52 off 31 balls, but once their partnership was broken, the innings collapsed quickly.
Italy Batting Summary
| Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Ben Manenti | 52 |
| Harry Manenti | 37 |
| JJ Smuts | 22 |
Italy were eventually bowled out for 134, falling well short of the target.
Leask Leads the Bowling Attack
Michael Leask delivered a match-winning performance with the ball and was named Player of the Match.
Scotland Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Wickets | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Leask | 4 | 4 | 17 |
| Mark Watt | 4 | 2 | 24 |
| Brad Currie | 2 | 1 | 12 |
| Brad Wheal | 2.4 | 1 | 29 |
| Oliver Davidson | 3 | 1 | 39 |
Leask also contributed 22 off 5 balls*, completing a strong all-round performance.
Fielding Highlights and Match Records
Scotland were sharp in the field throughout the match.
George Munsey took 4 catches, equalling the record for most catches by a fielder in a T20 World Cup match.
Other key records from the game:
- Scotland’s biggest win in T20 World Cups (by runs)
- First win for Scotland in the tournament
- Strong boost to their net run rate
Injury Concern for Italy
Italy suffered a major setback when captain Wayne Madsen dislocated his shoulder during the match. He was ruled out and did not come out to bat, leaving Italy effectively one player short in the chase.
Captain’s Reaction
Scotland captain Richie Berrington praised the team’s response after the previous loss, saying the strong start from Munsey gave the platform for a big total and the bowlers executed their plans perfectly.
This win gives Scotland strong momentum in Group C and keeps their qualification hopes alive. With a powerful batting display, disciplined bowling, and excellent fielding, Scotland showed they can compete strongly in the tournament.
Italy, despite some individual performances, will need to regroup quickly for their upcoming matches.
