KEY POINTS
- Sahibzada Farhan tops run charts with 220 runs
- USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar leads wicket-takers with 13 scalps.
- Ireland posts highest team total (235/5)
- Romario Shepherd claims best bowling figures (5/20).
- New Zealand dominates with biggest win by wickets and highest partnerships in first round.
- Netherlands’ Scott Edwards and Pakistan’s Usman Khan lead all wicketkeepers with six dismissals each.
- England’s Tom Banton and New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips top fielders’ charts with eight catches.
- India’s Abhishek Sharma and Italy’s Ali Hasan top the unwanted charts with three ducks.
ISLAMABAD: With the first round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 now concluded, the stage is set for an exciting Super Eight phase beginning Saturday.
Pakistan will lock horns with New Zealand in the opening clash of the second round at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, as eight teams battle for semi-final spots.
The first round, which concluded with Australia’s consolation nine-wicket victory over Oman in Pallekele on Friday, produced some remarkable individual performances and team records.
WE News English presents a comprehensive statistical wrap of the tournament’s opening phase.
Top Run-Scorers
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan emerged as the leading run-scorer in the first round, amassing 220 runs in four matches at a stunning average of 73.33.
His unbeaten century against [opposition] highlighted a breakout tournament for the young batter.
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka follows closely with 199 runs, also scoring a century, while teammate Kusal Mendis contributed 182 runs with three half-centuries.
South Africa’s Aiden Markram proved the most explosive among the top run-getters, striking at 187.36 while accumulating 178 runs.
India’s Ishan Kishan boasts the highest strike rate (202.29) among the top five, having smashed 176 runs in four innings.
Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett remained not out in all three of his innings, accumulating 175 runs, while New Zealand’s Tim Seifert scored 173 runs at a strike rate of 167.96.
Top Wicket-Takers
USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar leads the wicket charts with 13 scalps in four matches, including best figures of 4/25.
The left-arm seamer has been instrumental in USA’s impressive first-round campaign.
India’s Varun Chakravarthy and Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani are tied for second place with nine wickets each, with Chakravarthy boasting an outstanding economy rate of 5.16.
Scotland’s Michael Leask and Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai have also taken nine wickets apiece, while Pakistan’s Usman Tariq claimed eight wickets in just three games at an exceptional economy rate of 5.82.
Best Bowling Figures
West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd produced the tournament’s best bowling performance, taking 5 for 20 in three overs against Scotland at Eden Gardens on February 7.
His spell, which included a maiden, remains the only five-wicket haul to date.
UAE’s Junaid Siddique also claimed a five-wicket haul, finishing with 5/35 against Canada in Delhi.
Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi delivered the most economical spell among top wicket-takers, taking 4 for 7 in four overs against Canada — an astonishing economy rate of 1.75.
Australia’s Nathan Ellis (4/12 against Ireland), Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai (4/15 against UAE), and Pakistan’s Usman Tariq (4/16 against Namibia) also feature among the tournament’s best bowling figures.
Highest Team Totals
Ireland holds the record for the highest team total, smashing 235 for 5 against Oman at Colombo’s SSC ground on February 14 at a blistering run rate of 11.75.
Sri Lanka follows closely with 225 for 5 against the same opposition at Pallekele.
South Africa posted 213 for 4 against Canada in Ahmedabad, while India made 209 for 9 against Namibia in Delhi.
Scotland (207/4 against Italy), England (202/7 against Italy), and Afghanistan (200/4 against Canada) complete the list of teams crossing the 200-run mark.
Notably, all seven teams won their matches after posting these imposing totals.
Highest Strike Rates
Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis tops the strike rate charts, scoring at an incredible 225.80, accumulating 70 runs off just 31 balls.
England’s Will Jacks follows at 207.54, scoring 110 runs at an astonishing average of 110.00.
India’s Ishan Kishan (202.29), Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka (200.00), Australia’s Mitchell Marsh (196.66), and South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton (190.78) complete the top six, all maintaining strike rates above 190.
Most Ducks
India’s Abhishek Sharma and Italy’s Ali Hasan share the unwanted record of most ducks, dismissed for zero on three occasions each.
Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed follows with two ducks from two innings, while Italy’s GP Meade, India’s Axar Patel, Pakistan’s Usman Khan, and UAE’s Muhammad Arfan recorded two ducks apiece.
Most Sixes
India’s Ishan Kishan and Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan lead the six-hitting chart with 11 maximums each.
West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer follows with 10 sixes, while Sherfane Rutherford (9), England’s Will Jacks (9), Italy’s Anthony Mosca (9), and UAE’s Sohaib Khan (9) round out the list.
Most Dismissals (Wicketkeepers)
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards and Pakistan’s Usman Khan share the lead with six dismissals each.
Edwards claimed five catches and one stumping, while Usman Khan also recorded five catches and one stumping, including a four-dismissal performance in a single innings.
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock follows with four catches, while Italy’s GP Meade (four dismissals) and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis (four dismissals, including three stumpings) complete the top five.
Most Catches (Fielders)
England’s Tom Banton and New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips lead all fielders with eight catches each in four innings, maintaining an impressive catch rate of two per match.
Italy’s Harry Manenti follows with six catches, while USA’s Milind Kumar and Netherlands’ Roelof van der Merwe also claimed six catches apiece.
Highest Partnerships
New Zealand dominates the highest partnerships list, with openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen posting an unbeaten 175-run stand against UAE in Chennai.
South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock added 114 for the second wicket against Afghanistan, while another New Zealand pair, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, remained unbeaten on 146 for the third wicket against Canada.
Largest Wins by Runs
Sri Lanka recorded the biggest victory margin, thrashing Oman by 105 runs at Pallekele.
Pakistan followed with a 102-run victory against Namibia in Colombo, while Ireland defeated Oman by 96 runs at the same venue.
India and USA registered identical 93-run victories against Namibia and Netherlands respectively.
Largest Wins by Wickets
New Zealand recorded the most dominant victory, crushing UAE by 10 wickets with 28 balls to spare in Chennai.
Italy also secured a 10-wicket triumph against Nepal at Wankhede, while West Indies (9 wickets against Nepal) and Australia (9 wickets against Oman) complete the list.
Largest Wins by Balls Remaining
Australia recorded the most dominant chase, hunting down 105 against Oman with 62 balls remaining at Pallekele.
Italy chased 124 against Nepal with 44 balls left, while South Africa reached 123 against UAE with 40 balls to spare.
As the tournament now moves into its crucial Super Eight phase, Pakistan will look to carry momentum into their opening clash against New Zealand.
With statistical leaders from the first round eager to extend their dominance, cricket fans can expect more thrilling action in the days ahead.
