2026 T20 World Cup (in India & Sri Lanka)

MFPM · 22-02-2026 01:56PM

An embarrassing batting performance by SL...

VillaMad · 22-02-2026 04:51PM

Horrendous batting by Sri Lanka today. England have a good run against them and what should have been a straightforward approach to the chase turned into some brainless stuff. England's top order have been really poor in the tournament with Buttler in particular really struggling, but somehow they are finding a way.

Two early wickets for South Africa in India's chase of 187. India have so many match-winners that you need the complete performance to beat them.

VillaMad · 22-02-2026 05:12PM

India 4 down now. Run rate required climbing to 12 an over.

Strumms · 22-02-2026 05:41PM

7.35 was the required rate for Sri Lanka from the off. They didn’t need to remotely do anything risky or super hero-esque to win. But managed to get skittled. Ok a poor pitch but still.

India require 17 an over, their goose is cooked. Delighted. Ohh and Maharaj gets Pandya first ball after drinks, niceeee one. 😎. Two deliveries later he gets Singh too, could this be a sub 100 score for India, nahhh just wishful thinking. 😵. Or is it, 8 down now ☠️😎

MFPM · 22-02-2026 05:58PM

Yeah, SA winning decisively v India, big victory for them. The turnround in SA cricket in the last couple of years is really significant.

Gillespy · 22-02-2026 06:13PM

Ngidi 0-15 from his four. Unreal skill and nerve to bowl like that.

India's NRR is even worse than Sri Lanka's. 3.8 vs 2.55 shows what a hiding they both got.

VillaMad · 22-02-2026 10:44PM

Sensational South African performance that really highlights their potential to win the competition. They have only won one limited overs competition before in the Champions Trophy in 1998 and this team has as good as any team before to win a trophy. Of course today's win will matter little unless they back it up again.

India now in a bit of bother and have to win out from here. Zimbabwe and particularly the West Indies may see it as a shot to nothing against them now and hope that India sink under the pressure of their own public.

Gillespy · 22-02-2026 11:38PM

Fancied South Africa today although when they were 20-3 I was reconsidering that. India were so poor after Bumrah and Arshdeep's opening burst. No balls leading to sixes ruining good overs and a bad day out for their spinners let them away.

India haven't been convincing at all with the bat. Abhishek has been a huge disappointment. Three ducks in a row and nothing of substance again today. It was so easy for them in the NZ series but its a different story in a world cup.

MFPM · 23-02-2026 03:26PM

WI on for a big score here v Zimbabwe..Hetmyer huts 19 ball 50. 115/2 after 10.

Gillespy · 23-02-2026 03:44PM

Hetmyer dropped twice by Musekiwa, on 9 and again on 72. Both times he looked to blame the lights.

Two West Indies batting in caps against the spinners, they mustn't have seen what happened to Ben Stokes a few weeks ago. Looks cool but it's not worth it when you see the damage the ball can do your face.

VillaMad · 23-02-2026 11:49PM

Quite an awesome display by the West Indies and in particular Hetmeyer. A big advantage to the West Indies that they played in this stadium twice already in the tournament whilst Zimbabwe were coming from the more tougher pitches in Sri Lanka and it showed. Once again they seem to have all the bases covered. Power throughout the batting line-up, excellent spinners and pacers in Joseph and Holder and then you have Forde who is extremely good with pace off the ball.

Zimbabwe were at a loss at times at what to do but they also had themselves to blame as Musekiwa in particular had one of the worst days imaginable, dropping Hetmeyer twice and then getting a golden duck.

It will be the West Indies against South Africa next and if the West Indies did win that, then it will be very difficult for India to qualify due to their massive net run-rate deficit already.

England v Pakistan tomorrow back in Kandy. A victory for England against either Pakistan or New Zealand will see them into the semi-finals so they will have two bites of it. England have gotten the wins but have generally been disappointing whilst Pakistan have much to prove. The pitch in Kandy looked like a 170 par pitch, but the batters played well below that so it will be interesting to see how it plays again tomorrow.

Strumms · 24-02-2026 06:12PM

so England beat Pakistan by 2 wickets with 5 deliveries remaining… close. Through to the semis.

Pakistan up to their usual skullduggery and delay tactics and in fact get penalised for a slow over rate.

Some Performance by Harry Brook a century off of just 51 deliveries…special player, apart from raw ability his temperament and ability to consistently stand up when the going gets tough for his team, strike rate of 196.08…wow.

VillaMad · 24-02-2026 06:21PM

Excellent from Brook in an almost one man show in what was again not a great performance from England but they do enough just to get over the line to get through to the semi-finals. Good decision to put him up to number 3. Essentially you want your best player to face the most amount of deliveries as possible and batting at number 5 was too low for him.

England haven't hit the heights in this tournament at all but they are in a semi-final and anything can happen in a T20 game. Probably saves McCullum's job you would think as to add another failure at this tournament along with the Ashes etc, would surely have given the ECB a decision to make.

Gillespy · 24-02-2026 07:33PM

Pakistan were very tame with the bat and were chalk and cheese compared to England in running ones and twos. Babar was particularly poor a few times not even trying.

England into the semifinals with only one notable contribution from Salt and Buttler, that can be seen two ways, it's a problem or that they're due. England bowled well again, Sri Lanka suits them more than the better pitches of India.

VillaMad · 25-02-2026 03:37PM

New Zealand in absolute disarray against Sri Lanka in a must win game for the hosts. New Zealand were in a decent position of 73/2 after 9 overs but have absolutely crumbled and are now 84/6 after 12.1.

VillaMad · 25-02-2026 04:17PM

Terrifc recovery from McConchie and Santner to take New Zealand from 98/6 after 16 overs to 168/7 at the end of their 20.

Gillespy · 25-02-2026 04:57PM

20-2 powerplay just sums up the way this game has gone downhill for Sri Lanka.

VillaMad · 25-02-2026 05:07PM

Sri Lanka's batters are absolutely dreadful. Only Nissanka has shown any promise throughout the tournament and he went first ball.

4 down now for just 29 and going nowhere. Game and tournament surely over.

Gillespy · 25-02-2026 10:00PM

NRR should get New Zealand through now even if they lose to England. That game is first on Friday so Pakistan will know what's needed if they aren't already out if NZ win. Cricket by right should be like soccer and play the last group games at the same time.

MFPM · 26-02-2026 01:36PM

South Africa cantering to victory over WI who posted a decent score of 176/8. SA currently 159/1 with 5.3 overs remaining. They've been by a distance the best team to date.

Jacovs · 26-02-2026 02:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124266750#Comment_124266750

Thanks, now you jinxed us.

Gillespy · 26-02-2026 06:15PM

Brian Bennett finishes 97 not out. Shame he couldn't get a bit more of the strike towards the end to get his hundred.

Routine win for India. When their batting clicks, it's hard for anyone to live with. West Indies on Sunday to decide who goes through. After today it's hard to know what way that will go.

Strumms · 27-02-2026 04:14PM

After winning the toss and deciding to bat…NZ finish on 159/7. They should be disappointed with that total considering they were 64/0 after 6.5 overs but the wickets reeled their scoring back. From there they had to be expecting / hoping for around 200/210..

Not a gimme for England but they’ll be favourites…

Strumms · 27-02-2026 04:22PM

excellent first over from Matt Henry…. Only concedes 2 runs and takes Salts wicket. Good delivery but driving a ball that short and sideways movement… not too clever. Jeeez Buttler goes next over, awful shot by a player in no sort of form… Bethell promoted up the list, can he get England back on track. ?

Gillespy · 27-02-2026 06:19PM

New Zealand nnr is 1.39. Pakistan are on -0.46 so it's a big ask to overturn that. Sri Lanka being so poor right now gives them a chance at least.

India or West Indies for England then, whoever it is can't relax until they get Jacks out. Rehan showed again why he should have a long career. New Zealand won't know what hit them with that partnership. Out of nowhere.

VillaMad · 27-02-2026 08:28PM

Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks turned that game completely around in the end, it was a stunning ending. New Zealand really should won that considering the positions they were in. Somehow England found a way to win again and at least that gives us a bit of jeopardy in the final group game. Pakistan need to beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or chase down a target in 13.1 overs to qualify.

I wouldn't be shocked Jos Buttler calls it day after next week at international level. He has had a stinker of a tournament and effectively England are trying to find ways of winning with 10 players. 62 runs from 7 innings is dreadful, especially for an opener who can score quickly. Salt and Bethell haven't been great either to be fair and it's been a constant issue for them being 2 or 3 down in the first 6 overs.

England have some really good promising young players coming up now along with Rehan Ahmed in James Coles, Asa Tribe, the Rew brothers, Ben Mayes and Caleb Falconer among others to keep an eye on.

Gillespy · 28-02-2026 03:36PM

Pakistan going like a train, they are giving themselves a chance with this start.

Gillespy · 28-02-2026 07:05PM

Turned into a good finish, Dasun Shanaka almost pulled it off. Should have had another go as the last ball looked like a wide. Both are out so means nothing.

Pakistan screwed up not getting 240 after the great start, no one could get going. Dew didn't help them then when they bowled. It would have been interesting to see them do it and have the South Africa semifinal in Sri Lanka. Better team so doubt it would derail them but would give them a different challenge at least.

MFPM · 01-03-2026 05:04PM

India 52/2 chasing 196...this could be interesting..

Gillespy · 01-03-2026 07:00PM

Comfortable in the end. Hope had a nightmare innings, run a ball 32 in the powerplay. That's were they lost it.

2026 T20 World Cup (in India & Sri Lanka)

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