Namibia and Afghanistan emerged victorious in high-octane T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches on Wednesday, delighting their supporters with clinical displays. Pakistan and Ireland’s fixture, however, fell victim to weather woes.
The seventh warm-up at Bengaluru saw Namibia amass 226 for four, driven by Jane Frylinck’s masterful 88 off 44 balls – a knock bristling with 13 fours and three sixes – and Lauren Steenkamp’s 51 off 24. Scotland’s response was spirited, reaching 220 for five, courtesy of Brandon McMullen’s 95 (39 balls, 8×6, 6×4) and skipper Richie Berrington’s 46, but they couldn’t bridge the gap.
Shifting focus, Afghanistan defended 182 for six against West Indies in the eighth match. Ibrahim Zadran’s 51 and Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 43 set a challenging total. West Indies stumbled to 159 for seven, with Matthew Forde’s unbeaten 52 the lone bright spot amid Rovman Powell’s 32.
Afghanistan’s spin duo, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, each claimed two wickets to dismantle the chase. Over in Colombo, incessant rain forced the abandonment of Pakistan vs Ireland even before the toss, marking a dampener on the day’s proceedings.
These outcomes signal robust form from Namibia and Afghanistan, injecting unpredictability into T20 World Cup 2026 build-up. Teams will analyze these games closely to fine-tune strategies for the main event.