Henriques Leads From the Front as Portugal Thrash Israel in Qualifier C Opener
Published on August 15, 2026
Summary Overview: Portugal have named Moises Henriques, the former Australia international, as captain for the ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier C 2026 in Finland. Full squad, group and fixtures.
Henriques Leads From the Front as Portugal Thrash Israel in Qualifier C Opener
By Cricket Daily
Portugal could hardly have made a bigger statement to start their ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier C campaign. Captain Moises Henriques led from the front with a superb unbeaten 66, and his bowlers then blew Israel away to complete a crushing 94-run win at the Tikkurila Cricket Ground in Vantaa. On this evidence, the pre-tournament favourites mean business.
Henriques anchors and finishes
Put in to bat after Israel won the toss and chose to field, Portugal posted a strong 163 for 4 from their 20 overs, and the innings was built around their marquee man.
Henriques, the former Australia international, was the class act, finishing 66 not out from just 39 balls with four fours and four sixes. He came in with Portugal steady and made sure they finished with a flourish, especially after they briefly stumbled by losing two wickets at 131. Wicketkeeper Dhavalkumar Norotam laid the platform with a patient 46, and Cameron Shekleton chipped in with a brisk 30. When two quick wickets threatened to slow the innings, Henriques simply took over, adding an unbroken stand with Jeremy Martins to push Portugal past 160. For Israel, spinner Suboda Mangoda was the pick with 2 for 23.
Israel collapse in a heap
Chasing 164, Israel never got going and were reduced to a sorry 69 for 9 from their 20 overs, losing by 94 runs. Winning "by 94 runs" simply means Portugal's total was 94 more than Israel could manage.
The chase unravelled almost immediately, with Israel losing wickets at regular intervals and never stringing together a meaningful partnership. Yogev Nagavkar top-scored with 21 and Gabriel Schachat battled to an unbeaten 14, but no one else reached double figures as the innings subsided.
The damage was shared right across Portugal's attack, which is an encouraging sign for a team hoping to go deep in this tournament. Off-spinner Edward Fleming was the standout with 3 for 11 from his four overs, while Jeremy Martins and Rahulkumar Hashu took two wickets apiece, and Sirajullah Khadim and Sebastian de Oliveira also struck. It was a complete, disciplined bowling performance that never let Israel settle.
What it means
This is the ideal start for Portugal. In our tournament preview, we tipped them as one of the main challengers in Qualifier C, and a 94-run opening win backs that up emphatically, from both a confidence and a net run rate point of view. Net run rate is the tie-breaker used to separate teams level on points, and a thumping win like this gives Portugal a healthy cushion early on.
The stakes could not be higher, because only the overall tournament winner advances to the Europe Regional Final and stays on the road to the 2028 T20 World Cup. Getting off to a dominant start in a tough Group B, which also features favourites Germany, is exactly what Portugal needed. For Israel, it is a chastening opening defeat that leaves plenty to work on.
Portugal will be delighted with the balance of this performance. Their captain delivered with the bat, their spinners and seamers all contributed with the ball, and they won without ever looking troubled. If they keep this up, they will take some stopping.
Keep it locked to Cricket Daily for results, points tables, and full coverage of the road to the 2028 T20 World Cup.
Full scorecard
Portugal 163-4 (20 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Dhavalkumar Norotam | b Suboda Mangoda | 46 | 46 | 1 | 2 |
| Christopher De Freitas | c Khunti b Elan Talker | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Shekleton (wk) | c Mangoda b Yair Nagavkar | 30 | 22 | 3 | 1 |
| Moises Henriques (c) | not out | 66 | 39 | 4 | 4 |
| Carlos Nunes | c and b Suboda Mangoda | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeremy Martins | not out | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Extras | (b 1, lb 1, w 9) | 11 | |||
| Total | (4 wkts, 20 overs) | 163 |
Did not bat: Edward Fleming, Sirajullah Khadim, Rahulkumar Hashu, Sebastian de Oliveira, Upen Shantu.
Bowling: Elan Talker 3-0-27-1, Niv Nagavkar 3-0-23-0, Yair Nagavkar 4-0-35-1, Warna Narayana 2-0-20-0, Suboda Mangoda 4-0-23-2, Ajaykumar Khunti 4-0-33-0.
Israel 69-9 (20 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Benjamin Lazarus | c Martins b Fleming | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Warna Narayana | c Khadim b de Oliveira | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Yogev Nagavkar | b Jeremy Martins | 21 | 32 | 3 | 0 |
| Niv Nagavkar | c Hashu b Fleming | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Suboda Mangoda | b Rahulkumar Hashu | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Yair Nagavkar | c Hashu b Fleming | 5 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Shailesh Bangera (c & wk) | b Rahulkumar Hashu | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Joshua Marks | c Hashu b Khadim | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabriel Schachat | not out | 14 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Ajaykumar Khunti | c de Oliveira b Martins | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Elan Talker | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (b 1, w 3) | 4 | |||
| Total | (9 wkts, 20 overs) | 69 |
Bowling: Sebastian de Oliveira 3-0-10-1, Upen Shantu 3-0-11-0, Jeremy Martins 3-0-8-2, Rahulkumar Hashu 2-0-8-2, Edward Fleming 4-0-11-3, Sirajullah Khadim 4-0-17-1, Christopher De Freitas 1-0-3-0.
Result: Portugal won by 94 runs.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Israel vs Portugal match in Qualifier C?
Portugal, who beat Israel by 94 runs at the Tikkurila Cricket Ground in Vantaa.
Who was Portugal's star performer?
Captain Moises Henriques, whose unbeaten 66 from 39 balls anchored and finished the innings, backed by Edward Fleming's 3 for 11 with the ball.
What were the scores?
Portugal made 163 for 4, and Israel were held to 69 for 9 in reply.
Why does this result matter?
Only the winner of Qualifier C advances towards the 2028 T20 World Cup, so a dominant win boosts both Portugal's confidence and their net run rate.
Who else is in Portugal's group?
Group B also features Israel, Germany, Greece and Czechia, with Germany among the tournament favourites.
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