Italy’s bowlers continue to look a class apart as they dismissed France for just 95 on the second day of the European Under 17B Championships in the Isle of Man.
Defending only 155, they reduced the French to 29 for six at the start of the 13th over and only captain Thomas Liddiard held up the Italians’ charge to their second successive victory.
Italy skipper Roshendra Abewickrama had given his side a fast start with eight fours in his 43 from just 29 balls before he was second out with the score on 58. Aamir Shaikh maintained the momentum with 26 from 22 balls, including the first six of the day, and Muhammad Adnan added two more in a whirlwind 24 from just 11 deliveries before he bowed to the vicious turn of Zika Ali.
Liddiard was the most successful bowler with four for 46 - he bore the brunt of Abewickrama’s big hitting - and Haroon Rashid came on and picked up two of the last three wickets.
William Smati, Daniel Davidson and Avishka Liyanaarachchi had scored 183 runs against between them on the first day, at better than a run a ball, but this time they aggregated just 16 from 41 balls as the difference in bowling quality shone through.
Harpreet Singh was the best Italy bowler with four for 15 but all five bowlers used took a wicket, and all at less than five runs an over. They remain the team to beat.