South Africa’s  first T20 World Cup match since the heartbreak of the 2024 final proved a substantially less fraught affair. In the echoing environs of the Narendra Modi Stadium, they were made to work just hard enough by Canada  in the first meeting between the two nations, eventually easing to a 57-run victory thanks to Aiden Markram’s 28-ball fifty, and 4 for 31 from Lungi Ngidi.

Canada fought hard in patches, principally through Anush Patel’s  three wickets of wristspin, then a feisty half-century from Navneet Dhaliwal, whose 64 from 49 was the highest score of the match. Most of his runs came in a fifth-wicket stand of 69 with Harsh Thaker that cracked along at eight an over even as the rate continued to rise. By then, however, Ngidi had claimed three of his wickets in the powerplay to wreck any realistic hopes of an upset.

With its mix of red and black soil, Ahmedabad’s pitches can veer between extremes. But this offering, hard and lightly grassed, could hardly have been better suited to South Africa’s route-one methods.

The ten-day standoff over Pakistan’s   refusal to play India  in their scheduled 2026 T20 World Cup group fixture ended in an evening of frenzied press statements and near simultaneous announcements from the Pakistan government and the ICC that the match, billed to be the commercial centrepiece of the tournament, will go ahead on February 15 in Colombo.

The statement from the Pakistan government confirmed that a number of ICC members, including Sri Lanka and the UAE, had urged the PCB not to boycott their fixture, citing financial impact on other nations. It also confirmed that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken to Sri Lanka President Kumara Dissanayake on the issue.

“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Moreover, this decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations,” the government statement concluded

Three former champions had already been given a fright by cricket’s minnows at this T20 World Cup, but Pakistan, India and England all wriggled off the hook. On Sunday night Sri Lanka joined that jittery club, living dangerously before steadying the ship to secure a 20 run win over Ireland at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

The architect of the escape act was Kamindu Mendis, whose sparkling counter-punch changed the complexion of a game that was drifting into Irish hands. At a time when Sri Lanka’s batters were scratching around and the boundary rope seemed miles away, Kamindu arrived to breathe life into a spluttering innings.

Sri Lanka had endured 57 deliveries without finding the fence, a drought that would test the patience of a saint. Kamindu broke the shackles with a cheeky reverse sweep and then put the foot on the accelerator in the 17th over, plundering 21 runs to provide the much needed impetus. His cameo powered the hosts to 163, a total their well oiled bowling unit ultimately defended.

Without Kamindu’s rescue act, the tournament’s first major upset would have arrived at Sri Lanka’s doorstep.

It had been curious that selectors initially tried to shoehorn Dhananjaya de Silva into the side a month before the event despite his two year exile from T20 cricket. Common sense prevailed at the eleventh hour and Kamindu was drafted in before the squad submission to the ICC, a decision that paid handsome dividends as he delivered Sri Lanka their first points.

Old habits, however, continue to haunt the Sri Lankans. They tend to fly out of the blocks in the Power Play, only to lose their way once the openers depart, with a middle order that struggles to rotate strike when spin comes into play. Finding a way to bring Kusal Janith Perera into the mix could be the key to restoring balance to the line up.

There were also worried faces when leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga limped off after his first over. Although he returned to complete his quota, fears linger that his troublesome hamstring is beginning to play up again.

Sri Lanka now head to the hill country, where they face Oman and Australia at Pallekele before returning to Colombo for the final group clash against Zimbabwe.

by Rex Clementine