Guernsey lose to Italy in T20 World Cup qualifier

Guernsey had never played in the final stage of T20 World Cup qualifying before

ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier, Voorburg Cricket Club, The Hague

Guernsey 122-9 (20 overs): T Nightingale 35; H Manenti 3-17, B Manenti 2-21

Italy 127-3 (14 overs): Mosca 66no, Burns 30

Italy win by seven wickets

Match scorecard

Guernsey suffered a heavy seven-wicket loss to Italy in their opening game in the European T20 World Cup qualifiers.

Playing in the final round of qualification for the first time, the Channel Islanders struggled with the bat as they were restricted to 122-9.

Italy made their target of 127-3 in just 14 overs as opener Justin Mosca scored 66 not out.

It meant both Channel Island sides lost their opening matches after Jersey were beaten by hosts the Netherlands earlier on Saturday.

Guernsey will face Scotland on Sunday, before further games against Jersey and the Dutch in the round robin format tournament.

The top two sides in the five-team group will qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Italy‘s attack proved too strong for Guernsey

Guernsey made a poor start as Adam Martel was run out for one at the end of the first over.

Martin-Dale Bradley and Ben Fitchet put on 33 for the second wicket before the former was caught by former Australia Test player Joe Burns for 18.

Fitchet was trapped lbw by Harry Manenti two balls later as Guernsey slumped to 36-3 off 5.4 overs.

Matt Stokes went on to make 13 while Tom Nightingale’s 35 provided the backbone of Guernsey’s innings.

But after Nightingale was caught and bowled by Benjamin Manenti for 35, Guernsey lost three wickets for just one run to leave them on 101-8 off 16.4 overs.

Ollie Nightingale scored 17 before he was caught off the penultimate ball of the innings as the Sarnians ended on 122-9.

Luke Bichard took Emilio Gay’s wicket in the first over for eight as Italy’s reply began with a stutter.

But they recovered well as Mosca and Burns (30) put on 62 for the second wicket before Harry Manenti hit 22 off 22 balls.

Manenti was dismissed after 13.3 overs but Mosca guided the Italians home with an impressive 37-ball knock that included three sixes and six fours.