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T20 World Cup, Group C, Kolkata

Scotland 207-4 (20 overs): Munsey 84 (54), McMullen 41* (18)

Italy 134 (16.4 overs): B. Manenti 52 (31); Leask 4-17

Scotland win by 73 runs

Michael Leask and George Munsey starred as Scotland beat World Cup debutants Italy by 73 runs at Eden Gardens.

Munsey – dropped on 40 – blasted 84 as Scotland set 207-4 off their 20 overs, helped by Leask taking 22 from the final five balls of the innings.

Leask carried that momentum into the field, dismissing Italian opener Justin Mosca first ball as Munsey took an excellent diving catch to his right.

Despite a 73-run partnership between brothers Ben and Harry Manenti, Italy were always behind the rate and once they were removed, Scotland skittled the tail for a comfortable win.

With captain Wayne Madsen unable to bat having dislocated his shoulder fielding, Italy were bowled out for 134 in 16.4 overs.

Leask finished with magnificent figures of 4-17, while Mark Watt chipped in with 2-24 as Munsey pouched four catches.

With a rushed build-up to the tournament having replaced Bangladesh, Scotland gave themselves a chance chasing 183 against West Indies in their opener before ultimately falling 35 short.

They built on that showing with an excellent batting display aided by a flat pitch and a rapid outfield.

Two thick edges brought Munsey boundaries in the opening over and that set the tone as the left-handed opener struck 13 fours and two sixes in a powerful knock.

Dropped by Anthony Mosca off the final ball of the powerplay, he and Michael Jones (37) added 126 for the opening wicket, laying the platform for Scotland’s middle order.

Brandon McMullen was unperturbed by the loss of both openers, striking stylish six after stylish six to up the run-rate further.

He finished 41 not out off just 18 balls and had the best seat in the house to watch Leask close out the innings by smacking Thomas Draca for two sixes and two fours.

Although Leask and Munsey combined with the first ball of the reply, former South Africa international JJ Smuts and Anthony Mosca took 23 off Brad Wheal to spark life into the debutants.

However, both men were out within the powerplay as Brad Currie and Watt struck for the Scots.

The Australia-born Manenti brothers kept Italy in the contest, but Harry picked out Munsey at long-off from the returning Leask and Ben holed out to Jones off Olly Davidson as hope drained away.

Grant Stewart and Gian-Piero Meade both chipped straightforward catches back down the ground, before Wheal came back to dismiss Ali Hasan and wrap up proceedings.

Derick Hall doesn’t just feel blessed to be a Super Bowl champion. He feels blessed to be alive after being born with a 1% chance of survival.

The Seattle linebacker played a key role as the Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 in Sunday’s NFL title decider, claiming two sacks in a dominant defensive display.

But it is a wonder the 24-year-old is even here at all after being born four months premature in 2001.

Hall weighed less than 3lb and was on life support when his mother refused to have it discontinued.

Now 6ft 3in and 254lb, he hugged his mother on the field in Santa Clara, California, after Seattle’s second Super Bowl win.

“Everyone knows my story, what it took for me to get here, what it took for me just to be alive and have the chance,” said Hall.

“I’m very blessed – kudos to Mom. That was a special moment after the game. I feel like she’s an unsung hero, an unsung warrior through this whole process. She always fought for me. She never gave up.

“Just being able to play football and what this game has done for me and my life and my family…

After a difficult start to his NFL career, it seemed Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold was destined to become a journeyman back-up.

But after leading the Minnesota Vikings to last season’s play-offs, the Seahawks became his fifth team in eight years – and third in three – and they have won American sport’s biggest prize in his first season in Seattle.

“My team-mates and my coaches, they believed in me since the first training camp, every single day we came to work,” said 28-year-old Darnold.

“I shared a great moment with my parents and fiancee Katie after the game and I think that’s what kind of got me a little bit. I told my dad and my mom, I’m here because of their belief in me.

“Some people called me crazy throughout my career for believing in myself so much, but it was because of my parents. It allowed me to go out there and play free and have a ton of confidence.

“On offence, I feel like we didn’t play as good as we could have. I certainly didn’t, but our defence and special teams had our back.”

Seattle also signed Cooper Kupp in the off-season and he claimed his second Super Bowl win, having been the Most Valuable Player (MVP) when the Los Angeles Rams became NFL champions in 2022.

“My wife was the first person to believe in me,” said the wide receiver. “She’s believed that this story was written so long ago.

“I would like to say I was all in and believed it as well, but there were some tough times. Anna has believed that this is what we came to Seattle to do.

“It’s an unbelievable story. To be in this place, it’s hallowed ground.”

Seattle defensive coordinator Aden Durde became the first overseas coach to win a Super Bowl, after beginning his coaching journey in the British amateur game.

The 46-year-old said he felt the Seahawks were going to win “from down one”, adding: “We put a plan together and the guys executed at an elite level.

“I’m very grateful. A lot of people sacrificed a lot for me to be sitting here, but you don’t see that.