With one T20 World Cup showing remaining, Italy can't make it out of Group C to the Super Eights. But they went down swinging and hold their heads high.

Italy is finally heading to the World Cup — just not in the sport most people might expect. Amid dark times for the country’s storied but ailing soccer team, some salvation comes in the form of the Azzurri’s unheralded cricketers after their first-ever qualification for a global tournament.

England posted 202 in their 20 overs, Italy were rocked early by Jofra Archer but fought back before falling short by 24 runs.