Namibia v India A | Match Highlights | T20WC 2026 Warm-ups

Italy Crush UAE, India A Hammer Namibia as T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-Ups End on a High

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up Day 5 wrap sees Italy continue dream run while India A dismantle Namibia in dominant fashion.

Summary
Italy continued their dream warm-up campaign with a commanding 112-run win over UAE.
India A followed it up by defeating Namibia by 130 runs after a brutal collapse in the chase.
Anthony Mosca and Riyan Parag starred with the bat, while Gurjapneet Singh and Grant Stewart impressed with the ball.
The final day of warm-ups delivered a strong statement from both Italy and India A ahead of the main tournament.

Scorecard
Italy: 193/(20 overs)
UAE: 81 all out (overs)
Result: Italy won by 112 runs

India A: 197/(20 overs)
Namibia: 67 all out (overs)
Result: India A won by 130 runs

T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-Ups: Italy and India A Deliver Big Wins on Final Day

The final day of warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 offered a perfect glimpse into what fans can expect when the real tournament begins. With teams fine-tuning combinations and sharpening their match readiness, Day 5 of the warm-ups ended with two crushing victories that instantly caught the attention of cricket followers worldwide.

Italy, playing their first-ever T20 World Cup warm-up campaign, continued to exceed expectations with a dominant win over the United Arab Emirates. Later in the evening, India A produced an equally ruthless display, handing Namibia a humiliating 130-run defeat after a complete collapse in the chase. Both matches served as a loud reminder that momentum matters heading into a global tournament, and the teams peaking at the right time can cause serious upsets.

Italy’s performance was particularly eye-catching because they didn’t just win they outplayed UAE in every department.

After being asked to bat first, Italy got off to a flying start thanks to their aggressive opening pair Justin Mosca and Anthony Mosca. The duo launched into the UAE bowling attack early, stitching together an explosive opening stand of 81 runs. Anthony Mosca was in devastating form, smashing a rapid 56 off only 22 deliveries before being run out, but by then the damage was already done.

Justin Mosca played the anchor role with control and maturity, scoring 48 off 36 balls before retiring at the end of the 14th over. Italy’s innings maintained momentum through the middle phase as Harry Manenti chipped in with a handy contribution, while the lower middle order ensured the scoring never dipped.

The finishing touches came through Benjamin Manenti and Grant Stewart, who added a vital partnership late in the innings. Their quick runs pushed Italy to a competitive total of 193, a score that immediately put UAE under pressure even before they began their chase.

For UAE, Junaid Siddique stood out as the most effective bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 3/32. Muhammad Jawadullah also delivered a memorable moment with a sharp wicket, while Simranjeet Singh claimed one scalp. But despite their efforts, Italy’s power-packed innings had already set the tone.

UAE’s reply was nothing short of a nightmare. They lost three wickets inside the first three overs and never recovered. Italy’s bowling unit was relentless, with JJ Smuts and Grant Stewart ripping through the top order. Stewart continued to pile on the pressure, claiming multiple wickets and breaking any hope of a comeback.

As UAE slipped deeper into trouble, Crishan Kalugamage ran through the middle order, ensuring there was no late resistance. A brief fight from Muhammad Zohaib and Muhammad Farooq was not enough, as UAE were bundled out for just 81. Italy completed a thumping 112-run victory and signed off their warm-up schedule with serious confidence.

The second match of the day delivered another one-sided result, as India A completely dismantled Namibia. Batting first, India A posted a strong total of 197, built around a match-defining partnership between Naman Dhir and Riyan Parag.

Namibia made early breakthroughs, removing Priyansh Arya and Urvil Patel within the first few overs. But the Dhir-Parag stand flipped the match instantly, as the duo added 111 runs and dominated Namibia’s bowling with clean hitting and smart placement. Parag looked in total control during his 69 off 39 balls, while Dhir played the perfect supporting role with 39 off 29.

Although Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus briefly halted the momentum by removing both batters in quick succession, Ashutosh Sharma provided a strong late push with a valuable 35 off 21 balls. India A’s total was close to the 200 mark, giving their bowlers the perfect platform.

What followed was an absolute collapse from Namibia. Gurjapneet Singh struck twice in the first three balls of the innings, and Mayank Yadav dismissed Erasmus early, leaving Namibia completely shaken at 2/3. The wickets continued to tumble rapidly as Namibia lost their top and middle order without any real fight.

Dylan Leicher was the top scorer with 22, but Namibia were eventually bowled out for just 67. India A’s bowling attack shared the wickets, with Gurjapneet Singh, Mayank Yadav, Ashok Sharma and Vipraj Nigam all taking two each, while Ayush Badoni and Ravi Bishnoi also contributed with wickets.

India A sealed a commanding 130-run victory, ending their warm-up run with a performance that sent a strong warning to every team in the tournament.

With warm-ups now complete, the real excitement begins as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 officially gets underway. Italy’s confidence and India A’s dominance have added extra spice to the tournament build-up, and fans can expect thrilling cricket from day one.