Cyprus vs Finland — Cyprus won by 26 runs

Cyprus defeated Finland in the 69th match of 102 in the T20 Internationals 2026, posting a competitive total and defending it comfortably at Happy Valley Ground, Episkopi. Cyprus won by 26 runs. First-timers against each other in T20I cricket, this was a debut meeting – and Cyprus showed why they arrive on the back of a four-from-four run against Croatia with a sharp all-round performance anchored by the Senn brothers.

First Innings – Cyprus: 165/4 (20 overs)

Roman Mazumder and Akila Kalugala opened for Cyprus. Kalugala fell early – caught at 28 off ball 4.1 for 12 off 17 – and Mazumder followed shortly after at 53 off ball 6.3, caught for 15 off 13. Cyprus were 53/2 inside seven overs, a decent start but no flier.

Mangala Gunasekara came in and built the innings alongside Alexander Senn. The pair put on the bulk of the Cyprus total. Gunasekara hit 51 off 37 – 4 fours, 2 sixes, strike rate 138 – before being run out in a chaotic double mix-up at 130 off ball 17.2. Senn had reached 61 off 47 (3 fours, 3 sixes, SR 130) before the same collision ended his innings at 164 off ball 17.2. Two wickets off one ball cost Cyprus momentum at the death, but Taranjit Singh finished 14 not out off 8 (SR 175) to drag the total to 165/4.

Finland bowled with mixed results. Amjad Sher was their standout – 2/15 from 4 overs at an economy of 3.75, the only bowler who kept a lid on things. Nicholas Salonen (0/22 from 2, econ 11.00) and Pavan A Karunarathan (0/46 from 4, econ 11.50) were expensive. Hammadullah Shinwari (0/30 from 4, econ 7.50) and Faraaz Mehti Abbas (0/13 from 2, econ 6.50) provided some control without reward.

Second Innings – Finland: 138/10 (18.3 overs)

Chasing 166, Finland were in trouble immediately. Kaif Jamadar was clean bowled for 2 off 9 at 15/1 off ball 2.2. Faraaz Mehti Abbas followed off the very next ball – caught for 1 off 2 at 17/2 off ball 2.5. Two wickets inside three overs and Finland already scrambling.

Vanraaj Padhaal gave Finland some early impetus – 18 off 15 at SR 120 – before being caught at 33/3 off ball 4.6. Zahidullah Kamal was the backbone of the chase, top-scoring for Finland with 39 off 36 (2 fours, 1 six, SR 108) and lasting until the very final wicket – clean bowled at 138 in over 18.3. Jordan O’Brien chipped in with 13 off 15 before going LBW at 60/5 off ball 8.6.

Nicholas Salonen injected some late fight with 27 off 20 (1 four, 2 sixes, SR 135) but was caught at 104/6 off ball 14.4 – the decisive moment. Finland lost their last four wickets for 34 runs from that point. Amjad Sher hit a brisk 7 off 5 including a six before being caught at 121/9 in over 16.4.

Cyprus bowled with real discipline. Adam Senn led the way with 4/18 from 4 overs (econ 4.50) – outstanding figures in any format. Roshan Siriwardana backed him up with 3/35 from 4 (econ 8.75). Arjun Shahi took 2/26 from 2.3 overs. Ruel Brathwaite added 1/26 from 3.

Statz MVP – Adam Senn

Adam Senn is the Statz MVP with a match impact rating of 145.57. The Cyprus seamer took 4 wickets for 18 runs from 4 overs at an economy of 4.50 – clinical in a chase where Finland needed every run. Statz calculates impact based on match context, and Senn’s contribution in the second innings was the difference between a close finish and a comfortable win. There is no official Man of the Match for this fixture.

Top 5 Statz Ratings

1. Adam Senn (Cyprus) – 145.57 – 4/18 from 4 overs (econ 4.50), the match-winner with the ball.
2. Amjad Sher (Finland) – 128.19 – 2/15 from 4 overs bowling (econ 3.75) plus 7 off 5 with the bat – Finland’s best performer across both innings.
3. Alexander Senn (Cyprus) – 62.83 – 61 off 47 (3 fours, 3 sixes, SR 130), top scorer for Cyprus and the bedrock of the first innings.
4. Mangala Gunasekara (Cyprus) – 62.33 – 51 off 37 (4 fours, 2 sixes, SR 138), key partnership with Alexander Senn through the middle overs.
5. Nicholas Salonen (Finland) – 49.64 – 27 off 20 with the bat (2 sixes, SR 135), Finland’s most aggressive contributor in the chase.

Turning Point

Finland’s chase was effectively ended in over 14.4 when Nicholas Salonen was caught off Roshan Siriwardana at 104/6. Finland needed 62 from 5.2 overs with only their lower order remaining. Salonen had been their most attacking bat in the second innings – his dismissal cut off the last genuine hope of a Finland recovery.

Match Context

This was the 69th match of 102 in the T20 Internationals 2026 season. No formal league standings apply to this bilateral T20I fixture. Cyprus improve to 1-0 against Finland in all-time T20I head-to-head. The win extends Cyprus’s impressive recent run – they swept Croatia 4-0 in their last series and now have five straight T20I wins. For Finland, the loss follows a mixed recent run that included heavy defeats to Denmark. Both sides have further matches remaining in the 2026 calendar.

Full scorecard: statz.ai/cricket/fixtures/69867/cyprus-vs-finland/scorecard