In a thrilling finish to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, Italy have secured their maiden qualification for the T20 World Cup, set to take place in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Despite losing their final match to the Netherlands on Friday, July 11, Italy managed to edge past Jersey on net run-rate — a historic moment for Italian cricket.
NRR Drama Sees Italy Through, Jersey Heartbroken
Heading into their final group match, Italy knew exactly what was at stake. To qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup, they simply needed to avoid a heavy defeat against a strong Netherlands side. With Jersey tied on points, the race came down to the fine margins of net run-rate (NRR).
Italy posted a modest total of 134/7 in their 20 overs, thanks largely to crucial middle-order contributions from the Manenti brothers. Harry Manenti scored a steady 23 off 23 balls, while Ben Manenti added 30 off 27 deliveries. The total seemed below par, and qualification looked in jeopardy.
Netherlands Push Italy to the Edge
The Dutch batting duo of Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd came out swinging, racing to a 71-run partnership in just 7.2 overs. At that point, Italy’s World Cup hopes looked to be slipping away fast. However, the breakthrough came when Levitt was caught in the deep by Anthony Mosca, offering Italy a lifeline.
From there, the Netherlands shifted gears and didn’t push too aggressively, allowing Italy to contain the damage. With the Netherlands chasing down the target slowly and reaching the total in 15 overs, Italy stayed just ahead of Jersey on net run-rate — enough to seal a spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
A Historic Milestone for Italian Cricket
This is a monumental achievement for Italian cricket, as they qualify for their first-ever T20 World Cup appearance. It marks a significant step in the sport’s development in the country and a reward for years of effort and investment in grassroots and domestic cricket.
While Jersey can feel hard done by, having missed out despite finishing with the same number of points, it’s Italy who will celebrate a momentous step forward on the global cricket stage.
