Month: February 2026

Stories From the T20 World Cup

A look at developments in the men’s T20 world cup, including a major elimination and a great individual effort by a Canadian.

The first stage of the 2026 men’s T20 world cup is now well advanced. This post looks at a couple of major stories.

ADIOS AUSTRALIA

Australia having already been beaten by Zimbabwe faced Sri Lanka on Monday. When the folks from down under passed the hundred mark in eight overs they looked unstoppable. However Sri Lanka fought back, and as wickets fell Australia’s scoring faltered. In the end Australia managed 181, and were all out just before the end of the 20th over. That total was on the face of it still defensible, but now Pathum Nissanka, well supported by Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake proceeded to play an absolute blinder of an innings, racking up 100 not out from 52 balls with 10 fours and five sixes. Sri Lanka won by eight wickets with two whole overs to spare, and the mighty Aussies were looking straight at the exit door from the tournament. This was officially confirmed yesterday when the match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe was washed out without a ball being bowled. The truth is that after the two defeats they had sustained, both of which were strictly merited Australia would have needed a massive helping of good fortune to qualify and they deserved not to receive such good fortune. I also reckon that a really big name falling at the first hurdle is good news for the tournament.

A GREAT INNINGS

When the first match yesterday, between Canada and New Zealand got under way, no one playing for an associate nation had ever score a century at a T20 world cup. Yuvraj Samra, named in honour of former India international Yuvraj Singh, and like him a left handed batter, scored 110 off 65 balls with 11 fours and six sixes for Canada to become the first such player. Unfortunately for him he did not receive enough support from his team mates – Canada still only managed 173 from their 20 overs, and they then bowled so appallingly that New Zealand reached the target with 4.5 overs and eight wickets to spare.

TODAY SO FAR

Pakistan battered Namibia by 102 runs in the first game of the day to secure their qualification, and South Africa beat the UAE by six wickets with almost seven overs to spare to finish this stage of the tournament with a 100% record – played four, won four. India and the Netherlands are currently doing battle, and an upset does not currently look terribly likely.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

One Classic and Two Upsets

A look back at three matches at the T20 world cup that were each in their way remarkable, and a photo gallery.

The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup is continuing – as I type the USA are facing off against the Netherlands. This post looks back briefly at three very different fixtures.

WHEN ONE SUPER OVER DOES NOT SUFFICE

The match between Afghanistan and South Africa had more twists and turns than a mountain road. At various stages each side looked like winning but at the end of regular play the scores were tied- 187 each. Afghanistan looked in control of the first Super Over but a spectacular finish by South Africa saw that one tied. South Africa batted first in the second Super Over and score 23 from their over. When the first two balls of the reply were a dot and wicket it looked all over, but then Ramanullah Gurbaz hit three successive sixes to bring Afghanistan back into contention. A wide then reduced the ask to five, but off the final ball Gurbaz’s luck finally ran out as he was caught in the deep, and South Africa took the points.

TWO UPSETS

Italy do not have any great reputation as a cricketing nation, while Nepal had given England an almighty scare in their previous outing and are generally considered only just outside the elite. Yet when these sides met Italy won by ten wickets with an absurd amount of time to spare.

This morning Zimbabwe faced Australia. Zimbabwe have a good record against Australia in World Cup matches, stretching back to 1983 when Zimbabwe won the first match they ever played at a world cup by beating Australia. Therefore an upset was always a live possibility. A Zimbabwe total of 169-2 meant that they were certainly in the game going into the second half of the contest. Brian Bennett, a hugely impressive young opener, had anchored the Zimbabwe innings with 64 not out, while Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl each scored 35, and Sikandar Raza hit 25 not off 13 balls at the end. Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans bowled superbly and soon had Australia right on the ropes at 29-4. Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw launched a fightback, but then Maxwell was out, and Stoinis lasted only four balls before being well caught. Zimbabwe looked in control for most of this innings, but the moment that effectively killed any chance of a miraculous recovery came with a mere eight further balls to come – Renshaw was caught by Burl of Muzurabani to make it 139-8, 31 needed off eight and only tail enders left. Adam Zampa scored two off the fifth ball of the 19th over, but then Muzurabani bowled him to make 141-9 after 19 overs, 29 needed off the last over with numbers 9 and 11 together. Muzurabani had the extraordinary figures of 4-0-17-4. Three balls and five runs later it was all over, Matthew Kuhnemann being run out to end proceedings. Zimbabwe had won by 23 runs, and had looked in charge for most of the match. This result has created the intriguing possibility of the cricketing superpower that is Australia failing to make the final eight.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

World T20 Cup Underway

A brief mention of the opening stages of the Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup which is underway in Sri Lanka and a photo gallery.

This will be a brief post. The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup is underway in Sri Lanka.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR

The first match of the tournament saw the Netherlands and Pakistan in opposition. The Netherlands gave a good account of themselves but Pakistan emerged victorious by three wickets with three balls to spare. The second match was between Scotland and The West Indies. There were moments when Scotland seemed to be in this one, but two contributions were effectively decisive between them. First Shimron Hetmyer scored 64 from 36 balls, which lifted West Indies to 182-5. Then, with Scotland not entirely out of the running, Romario Shepherd took four wickets in five balls, including performing the hat trick, which turned 133-5 into 133-9. Shepherd’s final innings figures were 5-20. India had a major scare in the third match against the United States but it now looks like they will win comfortably, as would have been expected. I am not following this match because England are facing Wales in the Six Nations rugby tournament, and that has first claim on my attention.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

A goldeneye duck in the pond nearest my home.
Five lapwings just on the eastern (King’s Lynn) side of the Great Ouse.