Germany
played Italy in an ICC European qualifier as part of the qualification process
for the 2022 T20 World Cup at the Desert Springs Cricket Ground in Almeria, Spain on Thursday. Italy won the game by a run but a superior net run
rate ensured Germany finished above them on second and seal a spot in the global
qualifiers.

Self-governing
British Crown Dependency Jersey finished top of the European qualifiers, with
Germany edging Italy after the two finished level on points. Germany beat Italy
when the two met earlier in the tournament, while also beating Denmark twice.

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However, many
people on social were surprised to see the likes of Italy and Germany, two
heavyweights in world football, playing cricket.

“Meanwhile,
in a Parallel world, Small teams like Italy and Germany are fighting it out to
qualify and play heavyweights like India, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh in the ICC
Cricket World cup,” one user said on Twitter.

“I *never*
thought I’d witness this, but Germany is currently playing Italy… in a
cricket match!” another tweeted.

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“Germany vs
Italy, in cricket! This ICC T20 world cup qualifying match is being played at
the moment. It just doesn’t feel right,” one user said.

Check out
some other reactions:

Germany won
the toss and asked Italy to bat first, Dylan Blignaut picking four wickets for 18
runs from two overs, including a hattrick. Elam Bharati picked up three
wickets, while Dieter Klein also dismissing two batters, including opener
Gian-Piero Meade, to restrict Italy to 117.

However, Germany
struggled to get going as well, reeling at 32/3 halfway through the chase.
However, Klein (28) and Sahir Naqash (21) changed the course of the chase with some
lusty blows and nearly pulled off an improbable comeback, although Italy just about
managed to win.

Klein was
named player-of-the-match.

Germany failed to make the global qualifiers in 2019 to compete for a place in the ongoing T20 World Cup on net run rate, but the country has taken a huge stride towards their maiden appearance in an ICC event with the qualification this time.