Italy and the Netherlands have qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 taking place in India and Sri Lanka.This is the first time that Italy has qualified for a cricket ICC World Cup.The sides met in one of the two all-important fixtures of the day at ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Europe Qualifier at The Hague in Switzerland.
The Netherlands beat Italy by nine wickets, while Jersey shocked Scotland with a one-wicket victory off the final ball of the match which saw the Scots eliminated from the running for the first time in four Men’s T20 World Cup events.Italy and Jersey both sat with five points in the log standings, but the former secured their place at the main event by virtue of a superior net run rate.
Fifteen teams have qualified for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 so far. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 East-Asia Pacific Qualifier will see three more teams secure tickets to India and Sri Lanka and two more from Africa will make the final 20.Italy won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a competitive 134/7 at the end of their allotted overs. Their top contributors were number six and seven batters, Ben Manenti (30) and Grant Stewart (25), with Roelof van der Merwe the pick of the Netherlands’ bowlers, returning a Player of the Match winning three wickets for 15 runs.
In reply, openers Max O’Dowd (47 not out) and Michael Levitt (34), put on 71 runs for the opening stand, including 66 runs in the powerplay. Levitt’s was the only wicket to fall in the eighth over before captain, Scott Edwards (37 not out), entered the fray, adding a 64-run partnership for the third wicket to get their side to victory and the Men’s T20 World Cup.
In the other fixture of the day, Jersey beat Scotland for the first time, but their excitement could not last as they received news of Italy confirming their place in the 15th over of their match against the Netherlands.
Scotland posted 133/7 in their 20 overs after being put into bat first by Jersey. It was another case of the middle and lower orders to the rescue when they found themselves on 64 for six in the 11th over before Matthew Cross (43 not out) and Mark Watt (28) top scored for their side, securing a respectable total.
Harrison Carlyon and Benjamin Ward were the dangermen with the ball in hand with Carlyon taking three wickets for 26 runs and Ward two for 24.Jersey’s reply got off to a good start in spite of the early loss of Carlyon for 15 in the third over. Nick Greenwood smashed 49 runs from 36 deliveries to help their side to 81 in the 12th over before he was trapped lbw by Chris Greaves (two for 26).
After the fall of Greenwood’s wicket, Jersey suffered a batting collapse that saw them lose eight wickets for 48 runs. In the end, they needed five runs from four deliveries and captain Charles Perchard (one not out) and Jake Dunford (four not out) held their nerves to clinch their historic win off the final delivery of the match.(UNI)<>