Italy are the first team to secure their place in the final of the European Sub-Regional Group A qualifier in Finland after a convincing win over Croatia today.

Italy lost their first two wickets cheaply but thanks to 78 from Anthony Mosca, 45 from Baljit Singh and 59 from Gian-Piero Meade recovered to post a formidable 210-5 from their 20 overs. Croatia batted out their overs in reply but could only manage 44-7, a record low total for a team batting a full quota in a men’s T20I. The 166 run win secured Italy’s place as the Group 1 representative in Tuesday’s final.

The other Group 1 match today saw hosts Finland score 183-7 from their 20 overs against Greece, Nathan Collins top scoring with 45 from 36 balls. Gerasimos Fatouros top scored for Greece before he was out hit wicket for exactly 50, with Alexandros Karvelas the only other batter to make a contribution of note with 35. Greece were bowled out for 146, the 37 run win the first in five attempts for Finland against Greece.

In Group 2, Romania scored 133-6 from their 20 overs against Serbia with Vukasin Zimonjic taking 3-26 for the Serbs. He was outdone in the bowling department by Romania’s Taranjeet Singh who took 4-17 as Serbia were kept to 102-7, losing by 31 runs and extending their losing streak against Romania to eight games.

In the other Group 2 match Cyrpus, who still have a theoretical chance of making the final with a highly unlikely series of events, took on Turkey. Twin scores of 36 by Gurpratap Singh and Roman Mazumder enabled them to score 183-8 before they bowled out their opponents for 48. Chamal Sadun bowled well at the end, taking four wickets for just one run in 1.3 overs, the four wickets coming in a five ball sequence and featuring a hat-trick.

The teams have a day off tomorrow before play resumes on Monday, where the Isle of Man look to finish the group stage unbeaten when they play Turkey for the first time. Cyprus take on Serbia - also a first time matchup - in the other Group 2 match.

In Group 1 Greece play Sweden and Finland take on Croatia, both matches being the first time the teams have met in a decade.