Romania vs Bulgaria – T20 Internationals 2026 Match Report | Statz
Romania beat Bulgaria by 38 runs in the 74th match of 102 in the T20 Internationals 2026 at the Moara Vlasiei Cricket Ground in Ilfov County. Romania won the toss and elected to bat, posting a commanding 191/3 from their 15 overs. Bulgaria’s chase fell short at 153/4 from 15. It is Romania’s second consecutive win over Bulgaria in this series – they won by 31 runs on 8 May – and their overall head-to-head record now stands at six wins from seven matches against their opponents.
First Innings: Romania Post 191/3
Romania came out swinging. Taranjeet Singh opened with 35 off 21 – six fours and a six at a strike rate of 167 – before he was caught at 60/1 in over 5.2. Ramesh Satheesan was the mainstay through the middle, contributing 65 off 35 – two fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 186 – and finishing not out.
Irfan Husain hit a quick 14 off 7 including a six at 200 strike rate before being bowled at 89/2 in over 7.4. Avishka Iroshan then produced a devastating cameo: 31 off 15 at 207 strike rate with three sixes, run out at 131/3 in over 10.5. Janitha Fernando finished the innings in explosive fashion – 30 off 12 with four sixes at an astonishing 250 strike rate.
For Bulgaria, Jakob Gul was the standout with 2 wickets for 47 from 3 overs. The rest of the attack struggled, with Anthony Dowling (0/45 off 3) and Gagandeep Singh (0/33 off 2) taking punishment.
Second Innings: Bulgaria Come Up Short at 153/4
Bulgaria’s chase started promisingly. Isa Zaroo blazed 41 off 18 at a strike rate of 228 – eight fours – before being bowled at 69/1 in over 5.6. Kushaal Krishnakumar went early for 7, caught at 17/1 in over 1.3.
Milen Gogev made 20 off 20 before being caught at 72/3 in over 7.3. Jakob Gul contributed 5 before being stumped out at 81/4 in over 9.1. Manan Bashir hit a superb 56* off 28 – two fours and four sixes at 200 strike rate – but he was left stranded with insufficient support. Hristo Lakov added 17* from 13 in the closing overs, but Bulgaria finished 38 short at 153/4.
Dilum Fernando was the decisive bowler for Romania: 3/19 off 3 overs at economy 6.33. Janitha Fernando (0/17 off 3, economy 5.67) was tidy, and Josak Khadka chipped in with 1/35.
Statz MVP: Dilum Fernando
Dilum Fernando takes the Statz MVP award with a Statz rating of 105.8. His 3/19 off 3 overs – including the critical wickets of Zaroo and two others – was the bowling performance that kept Romania on top throughout the chase. Statz calculates impact based on match context. The official Man of the Match went to Ramesh Satheesan – a defensible call given his 65* off 35, but Dilum’s bowling contribution was arguably more match-defining in terms of impact.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Dilum Fernando (Romania) – Statz rating 105.8 – 3/19 off 3 overs. The wickets that killed Bulgaria’s chase stone dead.
- Manan Bashir (Bulgaria) – Statz rating 85.34 – 56* off 28 at 200 strike rate. Superb innings in a losing cause.
- Janitha Fernando (Romania) – Statz rating 79.06 – 30 off 12 to finish the innings, plus a tidy 3 overs with the ball at economy 5.67.
- Isa Zaroo (Bulgaria) – Statz rating 77.0 – 41 off 18 at a strike rate of 228. Gave Bulgaria hope before being cleaned up at 69/1.
- Ramesh Satheesan (Romania) – Statz rating 71.81 – 65* off 35, five sixes, official Man of the Match. The anchor of the Romania innings.
Turning Point
The dismissal of Isa Zaroo – bowled by Dilum Fernando at 69/1 in over 5.6 – was the moment the match shifted. Zaroo had been hitting the ball to all parts and was dragging Bulgaria back into the game. With him gone, the asking rate climbed sharply and the next three wickets fell without anyone building a meaningful partnership beyond Manan Bashir.
Match Context
This was the 74th match of 102 in the T20 Internationals 2026. ICC T20I rankings data is unavailable for these associate nations at this stage of the competition. Romania’s dominance over Bulgaria is clear: six wins from seven head-to-head matches, with Bulgaria’s only win coming back in October 2020. Romania are winning this three-match series 2-0 with one game still to play. Bulgaria’s batters showed more fight here than in game one, but they still need a bowling attack capable of defending totals.
Full scorecard: statz.ai/cricket/fixtures/69915/romania-vs-bulgaria/scorecard
