Manenti is a burly man, but his bowling action is unassuming: he runs in with a workman-like stride, stays front-on, and bangs the ball into the pitch. Effort is a good word to describe him at the bowling crease. Italy needed plenty of it as they neared the finish line at the World Cup's Europe qualifiers. Their first appearance at the global tournament was in sight, but still a dream unless they could defend 168 against Scotland - a heavyweight among the Associate nations.
Maneti had already scored a run-a-ball 38, but even he wouldn't have known his starring role was yet to come and so decisively. He scalped all five Scotland wickets to fall in a bowling defence that was built around his overs. In the powerplay, off successive balls, he took out Ollie Hairs with a short ball, and then jumped in the air to take a slow-motion grab - suddenly more superhero than workman - to send back Brandon McMullen.
He returned at the back end of the innings to take out three more batters. The final dismissal of the innings was courtesy a catch by his brother, Ben, who put in a diving catch running in from covers. Celebrations ensued on the field, and then more off it, when other results confirmed that Manenti had dragged Italy into the World Cup.
Key moment
Scotland opener George Munsey was unbeaten on 72 off 60, settled at the crease and key to their chase with 34 still needed off 17. Manenti had been bowling on a length and outside off for most of the innings, so Munsey stepped away to leg and crouched deep in his stance for a swing across the line. But the bowler pitched it fuller this time, and the ball stuck in the pitch just enough to deny Munsey a chance to get under it. He hit it straight to cover, allowing Italy to put one foot through the door to the World Cup.
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The numbers
9.62 Manenti's bowling average for his eight wickets across three matches of the Europe Region Final
What they said
"The fact that [qualifying for the World Cup] became a reality is something the players will treasure forever. Sometimes the game has a way of rewarding those who believe and put the work in to achieve, and these guys have done that."
- Peter di Venuto, Italy's manager
- Peter di Venuto, Italy's manager
The closest contender
Mohammad Aadil Alam
4 for 24 vs West Indies, second T20I, Sharjah
Nepal - playing West Indies in a T20I series against a Full Member side for the first time - had already sealed a win in the first match. But their second victory was even more spectacular: defending 173, medium-pacer Aadil Alam took two wickets in successive overs to reduce West Indies to 38 for 4, after they briefly recovered from 5 for 2. He then made it 63 for 5 and 79 for 8, with his other two wickets to headline a 90-run win that set Nepal fans dancing in Sharjah.
4 for 24 vs West Indies, second T20I, Sharjah
Nepal - playing West Indies in a T20I series against a Full Member side for the first time - had already sealed a win in the first match. But their second victory was even more spectacular: defending 173, medium-pacer Aadil Alam took two wickets in successive overs to reduce West Indies to 38 for 4, after they briefly recovered from 5 for 2. He then made it 63 for 5 and 79 for 8, with his other two wickets to headline a 90-run win that set Nepal fans dancing in Sharjah.