In a thrilling conclusion to the Europe regional final, Italy qualified for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, securing a historic first-ever appearance at a cricket World Cup. Despite a six-wicket loss to the Netherlands, Italy advanced thanks to a superior net run-rate, edging out Jersey and knocking out seasoned campaigners Scotland.
The Netherlands also booked their place in the 2026 tournament, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, after comfortably chasing down Italy’s 134-run target in 16.2 overs.
How Italy Made It Through
Italy entered the game needing to avoid a heavy defeat. Though the Netherlands dominated the powerplay and completed the chase efficiently, Italy’s efforts to stretch the game beyond 15 overs proved decisive. The turning point came midway through the 15th over, when Italy’s qualification was mathematically confirmed regardless of the final result.
Match Summary: Netherlands vs Italy
After choosing to bat first, Italy were reduced to 46/4 by the ninth over. Captain Joe Burns top-scored with 22, while Ben Manenti’s resilient lower-order knock of 34 anchored the innings. Contributions from Grant Stewart (25 off 16) and Anthony Mosca (13 off 14)* helped push the total to a defendable 134/7.
Dutch spinner Roelof van der Merwe starred with 3 for 15, including the wicket of Burns.
In reply, openers Max O’Dowd and Michael Levitt stormed through the powerplay, posting 66 without loss. Although Levitt fell for 34, O’Dowd (52*) and captain Scott Edwards (35)* calmly guided the Netherlands to victory and qualification.
Scotland and Jersey Miss Out
Scotland’s campaign ended in heartbreak, losing a nail-biting last-ball thriller to Jersey earlier in the day. Jersey, despite registering their first-ever win over Scotland, also missed out on qualification due to Italy’s net run-rate advantage.
Jersey, chasing 134, faltered after a strong start. From 81/1, they collapsed to 129/9. But captain Charles Perchard and No. 11 Jake Dunford nudged the final five runs in dramatic fashion, only to later find their efforts in vain.
Key Performers
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Harry Manenti emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the Europe final, finishing with eight wickets at an average of 9.62 and an economy rate of 7.70.
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Crishan Kalugamage bowled economically for Italy, finishing with 1/25 from four overs.
What’s Next for the 2026 T20 World Cup
With Italy and the Netherlands joining the lineup, 15 teams have now qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The remaining five spots will be filled via:
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The East Asia-Pacific qualifier (3 teams)
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The Africa qualifier (2 teams)
As the countdown to the 2026 edition begins, Italy’s qualification marks a landmark moment in European cricket, symbolizing the sport’s growing global reach.
