Sweden Crush Finland by Nine Wickets to Level Head-to-Head Record at 3-3

Sweden won by 9 wickets (with 23 balls remaining) against Finland in the 90th match of 132 in the T20 Internationals 2026 season at Botkyrka Cricket Center, Stockholm. After bowling Finland out for 116 in 14.5 overs, Sweden’s openers made light work of the chase to secure a comprehensive win that levels the all-time head-to-head between these two Nordic rivals at 3-3.

First Innings – Finland Bowled Out for 116

Sweden won the toss and elected to bowl – a decision that paid dividends immediately. Naser Baluch struck in the second over, bowling Aniketh Pusthay for 2 off 3 balls with the score on 15. Vanraaj Padhaal fell shortly after for 13 off 9, also bowled, leaving Finland 17/2 in the third over.

Faraaz Mehti Abbas was the standout for Finland with a brilliant 43 off 25 balls at a strike rate of 172, hitting six fours and a six. He put on a crucial partnership with Nicholas Salonen (28 off 24) that took Finland from 17/2 to 80/3 when Abbas was caught in the 10th over. Salonen followed soon after at 92/4 in the 11th over, and from there Finland’s innings crumbled.

Zaid Ahmad was devastating with the ball, ripping through Finland’s middle and lower order with figures of 4/20 from 2.5 overs. Samiullah Rahmani chipped in with 2/23 from 3 overs and Baluch finished with 2/34. Finland lost their last six wickets for just 24 runs, bowled out in 14.5 overs.

Second Innings – Mundra Masters the Chase

The chase was never in doubt. Ajay Mundra and Saeed Ahmed put on a masterful opening stand of 108 before Ahmed was run out for 36 off 27 balls (3 fours, 1 six) in the 11th over. By then, the game was already won.

Mundra was outstanding, finishing unbeaten on 62 off 38 balls with seven fours and a six at a strike rate of 163. He controlled the chase from ball one, never giving Finland a sniff. Zaid Ahmad came in and smashed a rapid 9 not out off just 3 balls including a six to bring up the winning runs. Sweden reached 117/1 in just 11.1 overs – a dominant nine-wicket victory with 23 balls to spare.

Finland’s bowlers had no answers. Amjad Sher went for 41 from his 4 overs at an economy of 10.25, Piumal Karunarathna conceded 30 from 3 overs, and none of Finland’s six bowlers managed to take a wicket apart from the run out.

Statz MVP – Ajay Mundra (73.12)

Ajay Mundra earns the Statz MVP award with a match impact rating of 73.12. His unbeaten 62 off 38 effectively ended the contest single-handedly, and with no official Man of the Match awarded, Statz’s algorithm – which calculates impact based on match context – makes the pick an obvious one. In four matches this T20I season, Mundra is averaging a scaled impact of 33.94 per match.

Close behind is Faraaz Mehti Abbas (72.69) whose aggressive 43 off 25 was Finland’s only real resistance, and Zaid Ahmad (59.49) whose 4/20 with the ball and quick-fire 9* with the bat made him the standout all-round performer.

Top 5 Statz Ratings

1. Ajay Mundra (SWE) – 73.12 – Unbeaten 62 off 38 anchored the chase from start to finish.
2. Faraaz Mehti Abbas (FIN) – 72.69 – Top-scored with 43 off 25 (SR 172) in a losing cause, Finland’s only real threat.
3. Zaid Ahmad (SWE) – 59.49 – Match-winning 4/20 with the ball plus a blistering 9* off 3 with the bat.
4. Zabiullah Zahid (SWE) – 55.55 – Tidy 1/12 from 3 overs at an economy of 4.00, applying constant pressure.
5. Nicholas Salonen (FIN) – 43.41 – Contributed 28 off 24 in the key partnership with Abbas.

Turning Point

The dismissal of Faraaz Mehti Abbas in the 10th over with the score on 80/3 was the moment this match turned decisively. Abbas had been batting at a strike rate of 172 and building towards what could have been a match-defining innings. Once he fell caught, Finland collapsed from 80/3 to 116 all out – losing their last seven wickets for just 36 runs. No other batter could replicate his intent or aggression.

Match Context

This was the 90th match of 132 in the T20 Internationals 2026 season. Sweden bounced back emphatically from their narrow 1-wicket loss to Finland just two days ago, levelling the all-time head-to-head at 3-3. Sweden are now on a strong run of form – three wins from their last four matches in this Nordic series, with victories over Norway (by 5 wickets), Austria (by 75 runs), and now Finland.

Finland will be disappointed after winning their previous encounter so dramatically. They came into this match having beaten Norway by 36 runs yesterday, but were completely outclassed on both sides of the ball here. The series continues with both teams looking to edge ahead in what has been a competitive Nordic rivalry.

View the full scorecard on Statz