ITA vs SPA

That brings us to the end of our coverage for this match. Till the next time, this is me (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Darpan Tikiya. Cheers! 

Spain won by 4 runs

Christian Munoz Mills 55*(23) | Muhammad Atif 3/14(2)
Joy Perera 66(26) | Irosh Vimukthi 2/25(2)


It turned out to be an incredible final over from Mati Ur Rehman as he held his nerves and took Spain over the finish line in a nail-biting thriller. They were only defending 9 runs in the final over in a match when the average runs per over was 14. 

However take nothing away from the knock Joy Perera played. The Italy skipper turned the game on its head after Italy was reduced to 21/5 inside the powerplay. Zain Naqvi, Zain Ali, Rajmani Sandhu and Simranjit Singh were all dismissed without bothering the scorers much. 

However the match turned on its head when Joy Perera came out all guns blazing. Muhammad Arslan was also batting well at the other end and kept finding the boundaries quite regularly. Arslan was eventually dismissed after making 35 off 19 deliveries which included four fours and a couple of sixes. 

Perera continued the good work but Mati Ur Rehman had other ideas in the final over. Five more runs were deducted from Spain's score as they received a penalty. Perera was dismissed in the final over and Italy couldn't quite get over the line in the end.

9.6 Mati Ur Rehman to Sukhwinder Singh, SKIES IT.... it comes down in the safe palms of the fielder at point in the circle. Sukhwinder Singh is out and Spain has won the match. Take a bow Mati Ur Rehman! He bowled that brilliant last over without having send down a ball previously in the innings. 

9.4 Mati Ur Rehman to Joy Perera, EDGED TO THE KEEPER!! Perera has tried to play a cross batted swipe and feathered it to Ahmed behind the stumps who makes no errors. And it isn't a free hit this time. 6 runs to win off 2 balls now.

9.2 Mati Ur Rehman to Crishan Kalugamage, OUT!!! He has flicked it to deep square leg, who has taken a good catch diving forward. 7 to win off 4 balls now and the new batter will be on strike.

9.1 Mati Ur Rehman to Crishan Kalugamage, hit down to wide long on. Perera was content with one. But Kalugamage ran for the second. Poor fielding and Spain has missed run out opportunities on both ends. 7 to win off 5 balls now.

8.6 Murad Ali to Muhammad Arlsan, RUN OUT!!! It was hit down to midwicket. They picked one run. There wasn't a second. But Arlsan was stranded half way down before he realised it. What's more? Spain have been penalised 5 runs due to slow overrate.

8.6 Murad Ali to Joy Perera, NO BALL AGAIN!! Waist high full toss and it has been caught at square leg. But he won't be out as it is a no-ball.

8.5 Murad Ali to Muhammad Arlsan, he has edged it to the keeper who has thrown the ball up in celebration. He forgot that it was a free hit. They run one. 

8.3 Murad Ali to Muhammad Arlsan, SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RUNOUT!!! But it isn't. Arslan hit it to mid-off and ran for it. Rabbani picked up and threw it at the bowler's end. Not on target though. Arslan was a mile away.