The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup delivered a day packed with drama and high-octane cricket as South Africa edged Afghanistan in a historic double super over, West Indies used spin to claim a strong win over England, and Australia kicked off their campaign with a dominant performance against Ireland.
Spin to Win: West Indies overcome England in Mumbai
West Indies strengthened their Group C campaign with a commanding 30-run win over England at the Wankhede Stadium. After openers Shai Hope and Brandon King fell early, Sherfane Rutherford and Jason Holder led the charge with explosive hitting. Rutherford smashed 76* off 42 balls, while Holder contributed a quickfire 33 from 17 deliveries, propelling the Windies to 196/6.
England’s chase never settled despite a bright start from Phil Salt, with West Indies spinners Roston Chase and Gudakesh Motie dismantling the middle order. Motie returned impressive figures of 3/33, while Chase picked up two wickets, leaving England reeling at 134/6. Outstanding fielding, including two run-outs, sealed West Indies’ win and kept their Super 8 hopes alive.
Australia begin with a statement: 67-run win over Ireland
In Colombo, Australia opened their T20 World Cup campaign with a dominant 67-run victory against Ireland, asserting control from bat and ball. After electing to bat, Australia posted 182/6 on a slow wicket, with Marcus Stoinis top-scoring 45 off 29 balls and Matt Renshaw stabilizing with 37.
Ireland’s chase never gained momentum. Nathan Ellis wreaked havoc with the new ball, finishing 4/5 in his first two overs, while Adam Zampa kept the scoring in check with 4/23. Despite a late partnership of 46 runs between Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell, Ireland fell short at 115, leaving captain Paul Stirling retired hurt and the Aussies in strong Group B contention.
Historic thriller: South Africa survive double super over against Afghanistan
Ahmedabad witnessed a T20 World Cup first as South Africa defeated Afghanistan by four runs after two super overs in a match that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Put into bat, South Africa posted 187/6, powered by Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickleton’s blistering 61 off 28 balls. Afghanistan began their chase strongly, led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 84, and appeared poised to complete a famous win. With the match tied at 187, the game proceeded to the first super over.
Afghanistan batted first, with Azmatullah Omarzai hitting a four and a six off the first two deliveries, taking the score to 17/0. South Africa matched it over-for-over, resulting in yet another super over to break the deadlock.
In the second super over, South Africa’s David Miller and Tristan Stubbs combined for 23/0, while Keshav Maharaj claimed Mohammad Nabi’s wicket early. Despite Gurbaz hitting three consecutive sixes, South Africa’s disciplined bowling held firm, restricting Afghanistan to 19/2, and securing a thrilling victory that keeps them second in Group D while denting Afghanistan’s Super 8 hopes.
Looking ahead: Teams eye Super 8 qualification
With the tournament’s group stages underway, Australia and West Indies have made strong starts, while South Africa’s resilience against Afghanistan demonstrates their championship credentials. England and Ireland face a steep battle to regain momentum, and Afghanistan must regroup quickly if they are to extend their T20 World Cup campaign beyond the group stages.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues to deliver high-stakes encounters, with every match shaping the road to the Super 8s and beyond.
