Finland Edge Past Sweden by One Wicket in Nail-Biting Stockholm Thriller

Finland won by 1 wicket (with 9 balls remaining) in the 84th match of 118 in the T20 Internationals 2026 season at Botkyrka Cricket Center, Stockholm. Finland won the toss and elected to bowl, then chased down Sweden‘s 107 all out with nine wickets down in what was a remarkable display of nerve under pressure. The result takes Finland to a 3-2 lead in the all-time head-to-head between these Nordic rivals.

Sweden’s Innings – 107 All Out (19.3 Overs)

Sweden’s innings never gained real momentum. Imal Zuwak fell lbw for 0 off the third ball of the match (0/1 in 0.3 overs), and Ajay Mundra followed for 3 (7/2 in 1.6 overs) as Finland’s seamers struck early.

Awais Ahmad (13 off 19) and Darshan Lakhani (12 off 18) steadied things with a 29-run stand, but both fell in quick succession – Ahmad caught at 34/3 in 7.1 overs, Lakhani caught at 36/4 in 8.1 overs. The rebuilding effort was undone in two deliveries.

Yatharth Chauhan was the standout with the bat, hitting 25 off 23 (2 fours, 1 six, SR 109) as Sweden’s only batter to get going. His dismissal at 79/5 in 15.3 overs, bowled, was a key moment. Wynand Boshoff (5 off 7, bowled) and Zaid Ahmad (3 off 9, run out) fell cheaply either side of the Chauhan partnership as Sweden slipped to 49/7 in 11.5 overs.

Samiullah Rahmani (16 off 11, 2 sixes, SR 145) and Hamid Mahmood (19 off 16, 2 fours, 1 six) added vital late runs in a 38-run eighth-wicket stand that pushed the total past 100. Sweden were eventually bowled out for 107 in 19.3 overs.

Finland’s bowling was clinical across the board. Muhammad Junaid Khan was the most economical with 2/14 from 4 overs (Econ 3.50). Amjad Sher returned 2/17 from 4 overs (Econ 4.25), Nicholas Salonen matched him with 2/17 from 4 overs (Econ 4.25), and Piumal Karunarathna chipped in with 2/22 from 3.3 overs. Faraaz Mehti Abbas picked up 1/13 from his sole over.

Finland’s Chase – 108/9 (18.3 Overs)

If Sweden’s innings was stop-start, Finland’s chase was outright chaotic. They lost Kaif Jamadar (1 off 3) in the first over at 8/1 (1.1 overs), but Aniketh Pusthay counter-attacked with 11 off 7 (1 four, 1 six, SR 157) before falling caught at 18/2 (1.5 overs).

Faraaz Mehti Abbas anchored the middle overs with 18 off 28 (2 fours, 1 six, SR 64), but his departure at 42/3 (7.6 overs) triggered a collapse. Faheem Nellancheri was run out without facing a ball at 42/4 (8.1 overs) in the same over – two wickets for no runs in five deliveries.

Zahidullah Kamal played the anchor role Finland desperately needed, scoring 28 not out off 39 balls (2 fours, SR 72). Around him, wickets kept falling. Jordan O’Brien managed just 2 off 6 (53/5 in 10.5 overs), and Finland were in deep trouble at 80/7 when Nicholas Salonen (19 off 14, 1 four, 1 six, SR 136) was caught in the 15th over, quickly followed by Hammadullah Shinwari lbw for 0 at 80/8 (14.6 overs).

Amjad Sher then turned the match with a blistering 15 off 8 (1 four, 1 six, SR 188). His counterattack took Finland from 80/8 to 102/9 before he was stumped at 17.1 overs. With 6 needed off 17 balls, Piumal Karunarathna fell caught for 1 at 107/9 (18.1 overs), but Zahidullah Kamal and Muhammad Junaid Khan (1 not out) scrambled the winning run with 9 balls to spare.

Sweden’s bowling standout was Samiullah Rahmani with outstanding figures of 3/8 from 4 overs (Econ 2.00). Naser Baluch took 3/12 from 4 overs (Econ 3.00) with a maiden despite conceding 7 wides. Advait Dhabe picked up 1/35 from 4 overs, and Darshan Lakhani took 1/1 from 0.3 overs.

Statz MVP – Samiullah Rahmani (167.83)

Samiullah Rahmani earns the Statz MVP award with a match impact rating of 167.83. The Sweden all-rounder produced a superb all-round display – 3/8 from 4 overs with the ball (Econ 2.00) and a quickfire 16 off 11 with 2 sixes (SR 145) with the bat. The Statz rating, which calculates impact based on match context, rewarded Rahmani’s dual contribution heavily. It wasn’t enough to win the match for Sweden, but this was comfortably the most influential individual performance on show. No official Man of the Match was named for this fixture.

Top 5 Statz Ratings

1. Samiullah Rahmani (SWE) – 167.83 – The complete all-round performance. 3/8 with the ball at economy 2.00 and a punchy 16 off 11 with the bat. Best individual display of the match despite ending on the losing side.
2. Naser Baluch (SWE) – 143.48 – Devastating with the ball: 3/12 from 4 overs with a maiden, economy 3.00. His 7 wides were the only blemish, but his wickets nearly won Sweden the match. Scored 0 with the bat.
3. Nicholas Salonen (FIN) – 93.95 – Genuine all-round contribution on the winning side. Took 2/17 from 4 overs (Econ 4.25) then hit a crucial 19 off 14 (SR 136) in the chase when Finland needed runs.
4. Amjad Sher (FIN) – 90.46 – Match-turning cameo with 15 off 8 (SR 188) at number 9 when Finland were 80/8, plus 2/17 from 4 overs with the ball. The innings that swung the match.
5. Muhammad Junaid Khan (FIN) – 68.01 – The most economical bowler in the match with 2/14 from 4 overs (Econ 3.50). Took key early wickets to set the tone, then survived the final stand with Kamal to see Finland home.

Turning Point

The match swung twice. Sweden looked to have it won when Finland slumped to 80/8 in the 14.6th over after Hammadullah Shinwari fell lbw, but the real turning point came at the other end of the drama – Amjad Sher‘s arrival. His 15 off 8 at number 9 was the match-winning cameo. The equation shifted from 28 needed off 32 balls with 2 wickets in hand to a near-certainty. When he was stumped at 102/9 (17.1 overs), Finland still needed just 6 off 17 balls – a target they reached with comfort.

Match Context

This was the 84th match of 118 in the T20 Internationals 2026 season, played as part of the Nordic cricket programme at Botkyrka Cricket Center in Stockholm. Finland’s one-wicket victory takes their all-time head-to-head record against Sweden to 3-2 after losing two of their previous three encounters in 2021. This is Finland’s second consecutive win in this series having beaten Austria by 6 wickets in their previous outing. For Sweden, the defeat follows a win against Norway and leaves them looking for consistency in this stretch of fixtures.

View the full scorecard on Statz