England v Italy: T20 World Cup cricket - live

Alistair Connor writes in and wants to know, “what’s the record of this Italian side against ... Scotland?”

Hmmm. Well, according to a quick Google search, they’ve played each other once with Scotland winning by 73 runs.

Hard to believe the two associates have only played each other once. I’ll keep digging (but by all means, if someone out there can correct me, please let me know).

Meanwhile the anthems are done. England in red with blue trousers. Italy in a blue hue known as blu Savoia. #4B61D1. Apparently it ids a “a shade of blue between peacock blue and periwinkle”

Nasser Hussein rings the bell and we’ll get cracking shortly.

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It’s easy to patronise the smaller nations, so please take this with the utmost sincerity I intend – I just love this Italian side.

Brothers opening the batting. A wrist-spinner born in Sri Lanka who works in a pizza shop. A head coach who used to play for the side when no one cared about them. A rag tag crew punching above their weight.

If you’re not sold, take a gander at this cracking piece that I guarantee will challenge the allegiances of a few English supporters:

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If there are any early birds up and about, UAE are giving Afghanistan a proper game.

Looks like the Afghans should get over the line in a nervy chase, but they still need 28 from the final 18 balls. In the balance.

OH, Azmat has just smacked a six down the ground. 22 needed off 17. Hmmm, could be done and dusted unless there’s a wicket.

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Preamble

Good morning, buongiorno, how you doin’?

Welcome to the OBO of England v Italy. It seems bonkers to say, given the pedigree of both cricket nations, but we could have a proper contest on our hands.

England’s T20 World Cup campaign has failed to leave second gear. They were poor in their defeat to the West Indies and hardly convincing in their wins over Nepal and Scotland – their first triumph over European opponents in this competition.

Italy meanwhile have been a revelation. They too lost to the West Indies but obliterated Nepal by 10 wickets thanks to a pair of 60s from the Mosca brothers at the top of the order, as well as the beguiling leg spin of Crishan Kalugamage. England only crawled over the line against Nepal off the final ball of the match. If that’s anything to go by we should expect an Italian win. Right?

Well, that’s not how things go and if any one of England’s big names find form this should be a romp. But let’s not rule anything out. This could go down as a classic.

We get underway at 9:30 am in the UK, 3 pm in Mumbai.

We’ll have team news and other bits to follow.

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