Belfast Wolves defeated Dublin Guardians by 52 runs at Sportpark Westvliet to start their campaign in the second European T20 Premier League encounter, which was characterised by power, pressure, and a decisive middle-overs surge. Belfast was able to bat first on a pitch that was supposed to provide pace and carry after Dublin Guardians won the toss and decided to bowl following a rain-affected start.
After suffering an early setback, Belfast managed to post 184 for seven in their 20 overs. The Wolves got off to a great start thanks to Paul Stirling, who scored 31 off 21 balls, including six boundaries. But Dublin momentarily gained the upper hand after losing three wickets quickly, reducing Belfast to 48 for three.
Rather, Belfast set the pace. After a challenging start, the Wolves recovered and finished with a strong late push, scoring 184 for seven from their 20 overs. Belfast’s bowling attack kept control throughout the middle and late parts of Dublin’s chase, which finally ended on 132 for nine.
The momentum briefly switched in Dublin’s favour after Tim Tector was dismissed and Stirling and Lorcan Tucker were swiftly removed. Belfast had lost three wickets in eight runs at 48 for three. After that, captain Glenn Maxwell scored a decisive 60 off 38 balls, striking four sixes and two fours at a strike rate of 157.89. He was named Player of the Match after his innings helped Belfast win the game.
By the 17th over, the score had risen from 68 for four to 152 for five thanks to the Chapman-Maxwell partnership’s 84 runs for the fifth wicket. Josh Little got two wickets for 43 runs, while Chris Wood was Dublin’s top bowler with three. The Guardians’ most economical bowler was Ravichandran Ashwin, who took one wicket while giving up 23 runs in four overs.
Through a combination of reliable partnerships and disciplined bowling, Belfast Wolves were able to recover from pressure and dominate the game. Although Dublin’s individual performances were promising, their lower order did not have enough time to recover due to early wickets.
With the help of Chapman’s innings and a team bowling effort that kept Dublin in check, Maxwell’s 60 served as the cornerstone of Belfast’s victory. With this victory, the Wolves have a great start to their first ETPL season and will continue to gain momentum.
