Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand seal wins at T20 World Cup

Broadcast details for Men's T20 World Cup 2026

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 continued to enthrall on Day 2 with six teams in action across three venues.

While New Zealand kickstarted the day with a convincing win over Afghanistan in Chennai, Nepal put up an inspirational fight against England in a narrow four-run defeat.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka then wrapped up the day with an impressive win in their tournament opener against Ireland.

Sri Lanka make triumphant start

(Scorecard)

Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana starred with the ball as Sri Lanka sealed a win in their first game at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 against Ireland.

Defending a modest 164, the hosts were on the mark from the get-go with their star spin duo leading the way.

Theekshana opened the account for the co-hosts with the big wicket of Ireland captain Paul Stirling. Hasaranga followed swiftly with the wicket of Mark Adair.

Ireland would manage to stitch a threatening partnership with Harry Tector (40) and Lorcan Tucker (21) added 49 runs for the third wicket.

Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage had struck in quick succession as Sri Lanka managed to pull their way back in.

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The strikes opened the way for Maheesh Theekshana to bag two quick wickets, putting the co-hosts in touching distance of a win in their opening contest.

Ireland had muscled their way with the bat with Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker adding 49 runs for the third wicket after losing both openers for 56 runs.

Ross Adair provided a fiery start in the chase despite Maheesh Theekshana rocking the stumps of Ireland skipper Paul Stirling in the fourth over.

Adair was joined by Harry Tector and the pair continued strike roatation with impressive running between the wickets.

Wanindu Hasaranga added to Sri Lanka's case with his third wicket, closing with stellar figures of 3/25. The co-hosts eventually wrapped up the proceedings in the final over, kickstarting their tournament with a win.

Despite losing Kamil Mishara early, Sri Lanka had a strong powerplay where they amassed 50 runs.

The pair of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis added 34 runs together before George Dockrell got the big wicket of Nissanka (24 off 23). Soon after Dockrell struck again dismissing Pavan Rathnayake to put Sri Lanka in a tricky situation at 68/3.

Ireland bowlers continued to keep the Sri Lankan batters in check, restricting boundaries as the scoring rate dipped. Sri Lanka slowly crawled their way to 95/4 by the 15th over.

Things turned around for Sri Lanka as Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis stitched together a crucial 67-run partnership, providing Sri Lanka’s innings with the much-needed boost. Kamindu smashed 44 off just 19 deliveries to completely turn the tide in Sri Lanka’s favour. Kamindu Mendis gritty knock of 56* off 43 guided Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 163.

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Valiant Nepal challenge England till the end

Scorecard

Nepal started the big clash against England in brilliant fashion as Sher Malla got the wicket of the dangerous Phil Salt in the second over. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell combined to add 38 runs together at a brisk pace before Nepal struck again, Nandan Yadav dismissing Jos Buttler (26 off 17).

England managed to amass 57 runs in the powerplay, but their troubles deepened immediately after as Sandeep Lamichhane struck with the first ball post the powerplay, trapping Tom Banton lbw.

Bethell and new batter Harry Brook led England’s fightback with a crucial 71-run partnership. Bethell played an important knock of 55 off 34 balls before he was dismissed by Dipendra Singh Airee.

Harry Brook completed his half-century with a fine knock of 53 off 32 balls before Nandan Yadav picked up his second wicket of the match by dismissing the England skipper.

Will Jacks’ blistering unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls provided the late flourish as England finished on a total of 184.

Nepal had a solid start to the chase led by Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh as Nepal raced to 31/0 in three overs. England struck back as Liam Dawson picked up the wicket of Aasif Sheikh, followed soon after by Will Jacks dismissing the dangerous Kushal Bhurtel for 29 off 17 balls.

Nepal ended the powerplay at 47/2 with skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee at the crease. The experienced duo went about cutting into the target, steadily accumulating runs and shifting the pressure back onto England.

The pair stitched together a crucial 82-run partnership that formed the backbone of Nepal’s chase before Sam Curran struck to remove Dipendra Singh Airee. In the very next over, Liam Dawson dismissed skipper Rohit Paudel, completely swinging the momentum back in England’s favour.

A string of boundaries from Lokesh Bam kept Nepal’s hopes alive. A 14-run penultimate over tightened the equation, leaving Nepal needing 10 off the final six deliveries.

Sam Curran held his nerve under pressure, conceding just six runs in a brilliant final over to seal the win for England and hand Nepal a heartbreaking defeat.

New Zealand come out on top against Afghanistan

Scorecard

A half-century from Gulbadin Naib helped Afghanistan post a competitive total of 182/6 in their opening ICC Men's T20 World Cup match against New Zealand on Sunday.

Naib smashed 63 from just 35 deliveries to help the Asian side to their score, after Black Caps pacer Lockie Ferguson had ripped through the Afghanistan top-order.

Ferguson removed Ibrahim Zadran (10) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) from his very first over as New Zealand reduced their opponents to 44/2, before Naib's rally allowed Afghanistan to a decent total at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Naib put on 79 for the third wicket alongside Sediqullah Atal (29), with the pair falling in quick succession to Jacob Duffy and Rachin Ravindra though Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi landed some lofty late blows to keep the momentum going.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun a web around the New Zealand top order going through the defences of Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra to have New Zealand reeling at 14/2 at the end of 2 overs.

Seifert counter-attacked brilliantly after the two early blows to keep New Zealand in check with respect to the required run rate. Seifert's knock allowed in-form batter Glenn Phillips to get his eye in.

Rashid Khan got the huge wicket of Glenn Phillips who was looking so dangerous and in the process broke a 74-run stand between Seifert and Phillips that threatened to take the game away from them. Phillips goes for a well-made 42 off just 25 deliveries.

The New Zealand opener smashed Mohammad Nabi for back-to-back sixes and in process brought up his half-century. Seifert had been unaffected by the three wickets he has seen fall at the other end as he has continued to put the pressure back on Afghanistan.

Two sixes and one boundary later, Nabi got his man as he dismissed the dangerous Tim Seifert who departed having scored a brilliant knock of 65 off just 42 deliveries. He innings put New Zealand in command in Chennai.

Afghanistan tightened the screws with the wicket of Mark Chapman, piling on the pressure. However, Daryl Mitchell (25* off 13) and skipper Mitchell Santner (17* off 18) produced late bursts to calmly guide New Zealand home with 2.1 overs to spare.

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