ITA vs DEN

ALL OVERRRR! ITALY DEFEND A SUB-PAR SCORE BY JUST FOUR RUNS IN BRILLIANT FASHION TO REACH THE GROUP C FINAL!

Joy Perera 52 (24) | Jaspreet Singh (3/21)
Lucky Malik 65 (24) | Delawar Khan (2/21)

Remember the stunning save from Shangeev in the first innings to save five runs? Well that has just proven to be difference in this match. It was that close. Italy have won this after being 4/3 in the first over, their lower order batting and now bowling really, really turned up today.

Denmark, unlike Italy, got off to a great start with 14 runs without any wickets lost in the first over. Italian shoulders looked down already but Jaspreet Singh led the early spark by getting both openers out, even as Lucky Malik began an assault on the other end.

But as the match progressed, Lucky soon became the lone fighter. Wickets continued to fall thick and fast from the other end as Italy picked up great catches and made up for their poor drops with tight bowling. Lucky finally crumbled to the pressure on the last ball of the ninth over and his successors just didn't have enough steam to take the team through.

9.6 Amir Sharif to Jonas Henriksen, THAT IS IT! Italy storm into the finals of Group C. Big hit came down late for Denmark, needed that much earlier. Back of a length delivery on the stumps, Henriksen hangs back and pummeled it way over deep square-leg for a maximum.

9.5 Amir Sharif to Saud Munir, OH! Length delivery on the off-stump, Munir drilled it down to long-off for just one. That should be it for Italy, unless Sharif goes wayward with the front foot or line.

9.4 Amir Sharif to Abdullah Mahmood, OUT! LOUD SHOUT FOR LBW, UP GOES THE FINGER! Italy celebrate and they just know why. Full and tailed back in on the stumps. Abdullah misses the whip and it raps on the pad, would've been crashing into leg-stump.

Abdullah Mahmood lbw b Amir Sharif 0 (1b, 0x4, 0x6)

9.3 Amir Sharif to Jonas Henriksen, OH! Top delivery from Amir, nails the yorker on the off-stump and Henriksen drilled it down to long-on for just one.

9.2 Amir Sharif to Jonas Henriksen, OH! Misses out, it's a dot ball. Pace off, short and outside the off-stump. Henriksen can't make the pivotal connection as he has a big swing and a miss.

9.1 Amir Sharif to Jonas Henriksen, FOUR MORE! Terrific shot that. Back of a length on the middle and leg, Henriksen hangs back and flicked it behind square, races away and finds the ropes again.

9.1 Amir Sharif to Jonas Henriksen, FOUR! Excellent start to the over for Denmark, full toss and down the leg-side. Henriksen swings at it and gets a tickle, beats the keeper and races down to fine-leg for a boundary. WAIT, this is called a WIDE SO THAT'S FIVE BYES!

 Amir Sharif [1-0-15-0] comes back into the attack
 
Abdullah Mahmood, RHB, comes to the crease

22 needed in the last over! This match has twisted and turned a billion times already. Don't be surprised if it's chased!

8.6 Rajmani Sandhu to Lucky Malik, OUT! MILES UP IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Sandhu strikes and this time the long-on fielder clings on to it. Italy are right back in the contest now, pace off and it's another full toss. Malik miscued it straight down the throat of the fielder.

8.5 Rajmani Sandhu to Jonas Henriksen, another friendly full toss outside the off-stump, Henriksen can't connect at it as he mistimes it down to long-off for just one.

8.3 Rajmani Sandhu to Jonas Henriksen, back of a length on the off-stump, Henriksen looks to swipe but gets the inside edge into the on-side for one.

8.2 Rajmani Sandhu to Jonas Henriksen, FOUR MORE! That is now rubbing salt to the wound. Length delivery, another slower one outside the off-stump. Henriksen slashes it to deep backward point for a boundary.

8.1 Rajmani Sandhu to Lucky Malik, DROPPED! That was a golden opportunity that Italy just shelled to reach the finals, is that the game for them? Pace off, Malik too early to play across the line and gets a leading edge down to long-off, fielder gets underneath it and spills it.