(Photo Credits: ICELAND Cricket Social Media)
Warsaw, Poland – July 10, 2025
The EURO CUP T20 2025 got underway in exciting fashion as Iceland outclassed Lithuania in the tournament opener at the picturesque venue in Warsaw. Led by a clinical bowling display from Asif Ali and a composed knock by opener Chamley Fernando, Iceland secured a commanding win to kick off their campaign.
After winning the toss, Iceland captain Dushan Bandara opted to field first—a decision that paid off handsomely. Lithuania struggled to find momentum with the bat, managing just 129 all out in 19.3 overs. While their captain Renu provided fireworks with a blistering 39 off 19 balls, including 3 sixes and 4 fours, the rest of the batting lineup faltered. A few players got starts but failed to convert them into meaningful contributions.
Iceland’s bowlers were relentless, with Asif Ali starring as the pick of the attack, grabbing 3 wickets for 23 runs in just 3 overs. Skipper Dushan Bandara chipped in with a wicket, while Lakmal Bandara claimed 2 scalps. Weerasooriya and Javed Khan took a wicket apiece to wrap up the Lithuanian innings.
In response, Iceland paced their chase with maturity. Opener Chamley Fernando played the anchor role perfectly, scoring a steady 51 not out, ensuring his team never lost control of the game. His partner Derick Deonarain got off to a flying start with 22 runs, but fell early, giving Lithuania a brief opening.
However, despite a brilliant individual performance from Abhijeet Bakshi, who bagged 4 wickets for just 13 runs in his full quota of 4 overs, Iceland comfortably chased down the target with wickets and overs to spare.
With this win, Iceland take an early lead in the group stage standings and send a strong message to the rest of the contenders.
Score Summary:
- Lithuania: 129 all out in 19.3 overs
- Renu 39 (19), Asif Ali 3/23
- Iceland: 130/4 in 18.0 overs
- Chamley Fernando 51*, Abhijeet Bakshi 4/13
Iceland will look to carry this momentum into their next match, while Lithuania will aim to regroup and bounce back stronger. In the next fixture Poland takes on Ukraine.