Mumbai, February 12 Ben Manenti (2/9) and Crishan Kalugamage (3/18) bowled a remarkable display of spin bowling, stifling the Nepalese batters, as Italy bowled them out for a meager 123 in their Group C match of the T20 World Cup here on Thursday.
Spinners continued to dominate the proceedings at the Wankhede Stadium, with Italy showing admirable precision in their line and length, combined with some excellent fielding, which kept the in-form Nepal constantly under pressure.
Manenti strangled the Nepalese batters from one end, returning 4-0-9-2, while Kalugamage also bowled his heart out to finish with three wickets.
Former South African player JJ Smuts claimed 1/22 from his four overs for the T20 World Cup debutants, as Nepal crumbled under the pressure of the Italian spinners.
Manenti's orthodox off-spin also made it easier for his younger brother, Harry, who stepped in after Italy lost their captain, Wayne Madsen, to a dislocated shoulder.
However, Madsen's absence was hardly felt in a unit that functioned like a well-oiled machine, with their fielders always present to take catches.
Kalugamage trusted the grip on the surface to dismiss Dipendra Singh Airee (17) with a googly that crashed into his off-stump, while opener Aasif Sheikh's innings was cut short by a brilliant stumping from wicketkeeper Gian-Piero Meade off Manenti in the eighth over.
It was as clinical a bowling performance as it gets from Italy, as they allowed no freebies and did not drop a single catch, keeping the partisan crowd largely silent.
The innings ended with a run-out by stand-in captain Harry, as Nepal were dismissed for 123 in 19.3 overs.
None of the specialist Nepali batters could counter Italy's charge on what remained a true batting wicket, providing grip and turn, as England and West Indies had played on the same surface on Wednesday night.
Nepal, who had come agonizingly close to beating England in their last outing here, began with the early dismissal of Kushal Bhurtel, and remained under pressure from the start.
Only Rohit Paudel appeared to be counter-attacking when he smashed two sixes, but the Nepali captain was caught at the boundary despite picking Kalugamage's googly.
Aarif Sheikh (27) hit three fours to lead the Nepali scorers, while Karan KC was left stranded on 11-ball 18 not out with one six and a four when the final wicket fell.
