Associates make early statements as Kaleem’s 80, Burl’s blitz and Airee–Sheikh stand headline confident victories
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 build-up gathered pace on Tuesday (3) as Oman, Zimbabwe and Nepal registered commanding warm-up wins, sending an early message that the associate nations are ready to challenge the established sides.
From Colombo to Chennai, it was a day defined by fearless batting, sharp new-ball spells and clinical chases, exactly the kind of momentum teams crave before the global showpiece begins.
While Sri Lanka A and Netherlands faltered under pressure, Oman, Zimbabwe and Nepal played with clarity and composure, ticking crucial boxes just days before the tournament kicks off.
Kaleem’s class powers Oman past Sri Lanka A
Oman produced the most complete performance of the day, chasing down Sri Lanka A’s total with authority thanks to a match-winning 80 from veteran opener Aamir Kaleem.
Batting first, Sri Lanka A never found fluency, slumping to 41/3 inside five overs as Oman’s disciplined attack squeezed early breakthroughs. Wanuja Sahan (29) and Chamindu Wijesinghe (24*) steadied the innings briefly, but regular strikes from Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmed and Jay Odedra, two wickets each, kept the score modest.
Kaleem then took charge of the chase with a calculated assault, smashing eight fours and three sixes in a 47-ball masterclass, absorbing pressure while wickets fell at the other end. His knock laid the platform before Vinayak Shukla calmly finished unbeaten on 39, sealing a five-wicket win with two overs to spare.
Drawn in Group B alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, Oman could not have asked for a more confident start to their campaign.
Zimbabwe outclass Netherlands with all-round display
Zimbabwe flexed both batting depth and bowling discipline to secure a 29-run victory over Netherlands, showcasing the balance that could make them dangerous in spin-friendly conditions.
After choosing to bat, Zimbabwe piled up 178/9, powered by Ryan Burl’s explosive 50* off 31 balls, while Marumani, Myers and skipper Sikandar Raza added valuable cameos. Logan van Beek tried to keep the Dutch in the contest with 3/22, but the total already looked competitive.
The chase collapsed almost immediately. Richard Ngarava’s fiery opening burst ripped through the top order, returning 3/11, before leg-spinner Graeme Cremer tightened the screws with 2/15. Though van Beek fought back with an unbeaten 40, Netherlands stalled at 149, well short of the target.
For Zimbabwe, it was a textbook warm-up, runs on the board, wickets shared and momentum secured.
Airee and Sheikh anchor Nepal’s clinical chase
Nepal delivered one of the most impressive performances of the day, brushing aside UAE with a dominant seven-wicket win in Chennai.
UAE started brightly but lost direction midway, slipping to 66/5 before Harshit Kaushik (35) and Sohaib Khan (38*) revived the innings to post 145/6. It looked competitive when Nepal stumbled to 45/3 early in the chase.
Then came the turning point. Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh combined for an unbeaten 103-run partnership, dismantling the attack with clean, confident hitting. Airee struck a fluent 50*, while Sheikh accelerated brutally with eight fours and two sixes for 61*, wrapping up the chase with ease.
The victory underlined Nepal’s growing maturity and their potential to upset bigger teams in Group C.
Momentum building before the big stage
Warm-ups rarely decide tournaments, but they often reveal mindset, and these three sides showed hunger, discipline and belief.
Oman displayed composure under chase pressure. Zimbabwe balanced aggression with control. Nepal proved they can finish games clinically.
With the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 just days away, the associate nations are not merely participating, they are preparing to compete. And if Day 2 was any indication, a few giants may be in for uncomfortable surprises.
