Scotland unleash Michael Leask on T20 World Cup debutants Italy

The Scots were billigerent with the bat and miserly with the ball as they set a mammoth 207/4 for the Italians to chase, which was always going to be too much.

Itay got their chase off to the worst possible start. Spinner Michael Leask got opener Justin Mosca to slash at the first ball of their innings, only to be caught at backward point.

South-African-born JJ Smuts, who's actually never been to Italy, stabilised things with an aggressive 22 off 11 before popping one to extra cover. Then Mosaca's brother Anthony fell in the next over, leaving them 40/3.

Yet another set of brothers, Harry and Ben Manenti, gave Italy some hope. They bashed 73 off 46 before Leask bagged his second wicket to end the dangerous stand. From there, the Leask Show continued, wrapping up the Italian innings in a flourish and ending with superlative figures of 4/17.

Earlier, Scotland were imperious with the bat upfront. Openers George Munsey and Michael Jones brought up 49 runs together in the power play and continued to press on to set a formidable foundation. 

Italy finally got their first-ever T20 World Cup wicket in the 14th over. Munsey (84 off 54) was looking good for a century, but he didn't get the elevation he needed and was caught at long-on. For Italy, it was more relief than jubilation. At 126/1, he'd done his job.

Jones (33) fell shortly after to Smuts' spin. With the platform set, the dubiously named Brendon McMullen and captain Richie Berrington went to work. They combined for a brisk 48 off 24 before Italy got two wickets in three balls to stifle the acceleration. 

But that brought allrounder Leask to the crease, who pounded 22 runs off the last five balls of the innings to take Scotland past the 200 mark, the highest score of the 2026 World Cup so far.