Story ICC Cricket World Cup 2027: A New Era Begins

[Viper.]

Engelbrecht back from retirement?

 

[Kamboh]

yes

Engelbrecht back from retirement?

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – Pakistan vs Afghanistan

Date: September 28, 2027
Venue: Buffalo Park, East London​

---

Afghanistan got their warm-up campaign off to a flying start, outplaying Pakistan in nearly all departments in East London. The result might not count officially, but the confidence boost absolutely will — especially against a top-tier side like Pakistan.

First Innings – Afghanistan Batting​

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first.


Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran set the tone early. On a typically sluggish Buffalo Park pitch, their positive intent stood out. Gurbaz played with flair, clearing the infield regularly, while Ibrahim anchored beautifully.


The pair added 86 for the first wicket before Shaheen Afridi returned for his second spell and cleaned up Ibrahim with a classic in-ducker. But by then, the platform was set.


Hashmatullah Shahidi, ever the accumulator, played a captain’s knock — rotating strike and keeping things moving. But the real boost came from Azmatullah Omarzai, who walked in with 15 overs to go and simply unleashed. His 57* off 34 balls — including three sixes — gave the innings late momentum.


Pakistan’s bowlers looked a bit undercooked. Haris Rauf sprayed it early, Shadab found some grip but didn’t threaten consistently, and Faheem Ashraf struggled with his lengths.


Afghanistan total: 297/7

Second Innings – Pakistan Batting​

Pakistan’s chase began brightly. Fakhar Zaman looked in ominous touch, launching Abdul Rahman for a massive six in just the second over. But Afghanistan struck back — Fazalhaq Farooqi removed Saim Ayub early with a sharp inswinger.


Babar Azam and Fakhar steadied things with a 63-run stand, but the pitch slowed up. Babar’s timing deserted him, and a frustrated attempt to accelerate saw him top-edge a sweep off Rashid Khan.


The middle overs belonged entirely to Afghanistan’s spinners. Rashid, Noor, and Qais operated in tandem, squeezing Pakistan to the point of frustration. Fakhar holed out for 74 trying to break free, and from there, the innings unraveled.

​

Despite some resistance from Rizwan and a quickfire 48 from Shadab, the collapse came hard. From 165/3 to 248 all out, Pakistan fell apart under scoreboard pressure.

Match Summary​

Afghanistan – 297/7 (50 overs)
Pakistan – 248 all out (44.2 overs)


Result: Afghanistan won by 49 runs
Top Performer: Rashid Khan – 3/36

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – England vs Bangladesh

Date: September 28, 2027
Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare​

---

Bangladesh won the toss and batted first.​

First Innings – Bangladesh Batting​

Openers Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan gave Bangladesh a solid start, putting on 61 for the first wicket before Jofra Archer broke through with raw pace. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain, then crafted a composed 59 off 72, keeping things ticking.


The standout, however, was Towhid Hridoy, who counter-attacked superbly in the middle overs with a 45-ball 63. His footwork against spin was especially sharp, lofting Adil Rashid for a pair of clean sixes over midwicket.


Bangladesh finished on a competitive 284/8, despite a late wobble triggered by Sam Curran, who bowled cleverly at the death.

Second Innings – England Batting​

England’s chase wasn’t without stumbles, but it was measured. Phil Salt came out swinging but fell early to Taskin Ahmed, flashing one too many. But Jason Roy, aggressive and composed, led the reply with a high-tempo 58 runs, taking down both pace and spin.


Harry Brook (captain) played the innings of the day. After arriving at 84/2, he soaked up pressure before exploding later — hitting Mehidy for a massive six to bring up his fifty. His 79 runs anchored the chase perfectly.

​

There was a slight stutter when Livingstone and Jos Buttler fell in quick succession, but Sam Curran, continuing his all-round brilliance, closed things out with an unbeaten 38 off 28. He was calm, smart, and picked the gaps perfectly.


England got home in 48.2 overs, winning by 4 wickets, with 10 balls to spare.

Final Scorecard Summary​

Bangladesh – 284/8 (50 overs)
England – 288/6 (48.2 overs)


Result: England won by 4 wickets.
Top Performer: Harry Brook– 79

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – Sri Lanka vs New Zealand

Date: September 29, 2027
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban​

---

New Zealand couldn’t have scripted a better dress rehearsal for the World Cup. In Durban, they made light work of Sri Lanka, cruising to a five-wicket win that looked easy from the moment the chase began. Chasing 240, the Kiwis wrapped it up with over 12 overs left — calm, clinical, and completely in control.


Sri Lanka did have some bright spots. Pathum Nissanka looked in good touch with a composed 54, and captain Charith Asalanka added 49 in a solid rebuilding effort. Then came a spark from Wanindu Hasaranga, who chipped in with a lively 36 off 28 balls to give the innings a late lift. Still, 239 never really felt like enough — and it wasn’t.


New Zealand’s bowlers were sharp from the start. Matt Henry was on the money, picking up 3 for 35 and setting the tone early. Mitchell Santner and Ben Sears backed him up with two wickets each, and between them, they never let Sri Lanka get away.

​

Once the chase began, New Zealand looked like they were out for a stroll. Devon Conway was all class with a fluent 66, while Daryl Mitchell continued his golden run, smashing 58 runs. Glenn Phillips added a quick 42, and by the time he walked back, the result was pretty much signed, sealed, and delivered.


Hasaranga did his best with the ball, claiming two wickets, but there was little support and even less pressure. The Kiwis coasted to the target in just 37.2 overs — a strong statement, and a reminder that they're not here to mess around.

---

Final Scorecard Summary
Sri Lanka – 239 all out (47.4 overs)
New Zealand – 243/5 (37.2 overs)


Result: New Zealand won by 5 wickets
Top Performer: Matt Henry – 3 for 35

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – Ireland vs Netherlands

Date: September 29, 2027
Venue: University Oval, Potchefstroom​

---

Ireland Edge Netherlands in Gritty Warm-Up Battle


In a warm-up game that had all the ebb and flow of a proper tournament clash, Ireland came out on top, beating the Netherlands by 22 runs in Potchefstroom. It wasn’t perfect — far from it — but it was gritty, intense, and exactly the kind of contest that gets teams battle-ready.


While batting first, Ireland came out swinging. Paul Stirling wasted no time, cracking a lively 48 runs, while Harry Tector looked composed on his way to 63. With Curtis Campher adding a smooth 38, Ireland looked set for something around 320 when they hit 200 for 4. But then came the slide.


Logan van Beek led the Dutch fightback with 3 for 44, and Aryan Dutt kept things tight at the other end. The pressure told — Ireland’s middle and lower order folded quickly, and they lost six wickets for just 51 runs, bowled out in under 42 overs for 251.


The Dutch reply began cautiously. Max O'Dowd and Vikramjit Singh laid a steady platform, and things started to shift when Teja Nidamanuru came in swinging. His punchy 52 brought the chase to life, and with Sybrand Engelbrecht chipping in with 34, the game looked wide open.


But Ireland’s bowlers kept plugging away. Josh Little set the tone early, and Mark Adair’s knack for key wickets paid off again. The real turning point, though, came with Ben White’s spell — the leggie claimed 3 for 35, including Nidamanuru, breaking the Dutch momentum just when it was building.

​

Van Beek tried to pull off something special at the end, but the damage was done. The Netherlands were bowled out for 229 in the 45th over, falling just short.


It wasn’t the most polished performance from Ireland, but they’ll take heart from the way they clawed their way through — showing fight with the ball after a stumble with the bat. With the tournament looming, this was the kind of tough workout both teams needed.

---

Final Scorecard Summary
Ireland – 251 all out (41.5 overs)
Netherlands – 229 all out (44.3 overs)


Result: Ireland won by 22 runs
Top Performer: Ben White – 3 for 35

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – South Africa vs Afghanistan

Date: September 30, 2027
Venue: SuperSport Park, Centurion​

---

South Africa cruised to an easy win over Afghanistan in their second warm-up match at SuperSport Park. With strong support from the home crowd and conditions favoring pace, the Proteas’ fast bowlers dominated from the start. Their batters then chased down the target comfortably, leaving Afghanistan searching for solutions after a one-sided outing.


Put in to bat, Afghanistan had a nightmare start. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje came in hard and fast, and before anyone had settled into their seats, the top order was gone — four down inside ten overs, shell-shocked at 34/4. Rahmanullah Gurbaz tried to fight back, swinging his way to 39 off 44, but it never felt like it would last.

​

Gerald Coetzee joined the fun in the middle overs, banging the ball in short and heavy, while Tabraiz Shamsi spun through the tail with 3 wickets. All out for 157 in just over 32 overs — Afghanistan simply never got going.


The chase? Straightforward. Temba Bavuma played the anchor with 48, steady as ever. There was a small hiccup at 89/3, but David Miller (41*) and Tristan Stubbs (a lively 38 runs) shut the door quickly. Rashid Khan was the only real bright spot for Afghanistan, picking up two wickets and keeping things tight, but defending 157 was always a long shot.


Markram finished it in style — a classic punch through cover — and South Africa wrapped it up in just 28.3 overs.


Job done. Bowlers firing, batters getting time in the middle, and the Proteas ticking the right boxes before the real stuff begins.

---

Final Scorecard Summary

Afghanistan – 157 all out (32.4 overs)
South Africa – 158/3 (28.3 overs)


Result: South Africa won by 7 wickets
Top Performer: Anrich Nortje – 3 for 24

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – India vs Bangladesh

Date: September 30, 2027
Venue: Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein​

---

Coming off a resounding 95-run win over the Netherlands, India continued their dominant build-up to the World Cup with another convincing victory — this time overcoming Bangladesh by 62 runs in Bloemfontein.


Bangladesh, meanwhile, suffered their second straight defeat after a tight 4-wicket loss to England, and will be left with more questions than answers heading into the tournament proper.

India Innings


India got another go with the bat on a dry but playable pitch in Bloemfontein. Right from the start, Yashasvi Jaiswal looked like he meant business. He went after the bowlers without much waiting around — chipped one over cover off Taskin and then nailed two quick sweeps off Miraz. Looked very comfortable.


He ended up scoring 82, and it didn’t feel like he broke a sweat doing it. Confident, quick hands, clean shots. The shot of the innings was probably that flat six over midwicket — next ball, he reverse-swept for four. Class.


Gill hung around and played the anchor role — got 38 before edging one. Kohli started nicely but didn’t quite kick on, falling for 33 while trying to push the pace.


Then came some useful middle-order knocks. Hardik played with intent — hit 42, including a massive straight six. Rahul and Jadeja made sure India got to a good total in the end: 294 for 7. Solid score.


Bangladesh Innings


Bangladesh started off a bit tentatively. Tanzid and Shanto took their time early on, but Bumrah cut that short with a sharp bouncer that Tanzid gloved behind. Good bowling.


Shanto tried to hold things together, making 49, but there wasn’t much support around him. India’s spinners took over — Kuldeep especially. He grabbed three and made things difficult in the middle. One wrong’un got Hridoy plumb, and Zakir got done in the flight.

​

Mehidy Miraz fought back a bit — hit 35 off 31, had a few nice strokes — but holed out trying to go big. After that, it felt like a slow fade. Jadeja and Pandya wrapped things up efficiently.


Bangladesh were all out for 232 in the 47th over. India won it by 62 runs. Decent all-round performance.

---

Final Scorecard Summary


India – 294/7 (50 overs)
Bangladesh – 232 all out (46.4 overs)


Result: India won by 62 runs
Top Performer: Kuldeep Yadav – 3 for 35

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka

Date: October 1, 2027
Venue: Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek​

---

Sri Lanka bounced back strongly after a tough outing in their first warm-up, putting together a solid all-round display to beat Zimbabwe by 75 runs in Windhoek. The top order clicked nicely, setting up a big total, and the spinners did the rest — controlling the game through the middle and never really letting Zimbabwe get close.


It was the kind of performance they needed — not just to get back on track, but to build some rhythm heading into the main tournament. A win like this should give the Sri Lankan squad a real boost in confidence.


Sri Lanka Innings


Sri Lanka won the toss and didn’t hesitate — they chose to bat and made it clear they were going to go hard. From ball one, Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando looked in control. Nissanka was punching drives straight down the ground with ease, while Fernando didn’t shy away from the short stuff — he was pulling confidently, showing real intent.


The pair put on 123 runs in under 18 overs, giving Sri Lanka the perfect launchpad. Fernando looked dangerous before he mistimed a slog and was caught for 64 runs. Nissanka, though, kept going — so close to a ton, but he fell on 91, undone by a slower one from Brad Evans.


Things only got better from there. Charith Asalanka took his time to settle in, pacing his innings smartly before shifting gears in the final 10 overs. He ended with a solid 66, anchoring the middle phase beautifully. Then, it was pure entertainment. Wanindu Hasaranga came in swinging, tearing into the bowlers with a breathtaking 57 off just 26 balls. He cleared the ropes four times and sent the ball racing to the boundary on three more occasions. His quickfire knock gave the innings a serious jolt of energy.

​

By the time the 50 overs were done, Sri Lanka had piled up 351 for 6 — a total built on aggression, smart partnerships, and well-timed acceleration.



Zimbabwe Innings


Chasing 352 was always going to be a tough ask, but Zimbabwe started with a bit of intent. Milton Shumba was finding the gaps early, and Innocent Kaia looked composed with a couple of nice drives. But the pressure of the scoreboard was never far behind.


Kaia edged behind for 26 off Theekshana, and Shumba — looking solid on 38 — played one shot too many, missing a reverse sweep and getting bowled by Wellalage.


Dion Myers, tried to fight back. He played a gutsy knock, scoring 82 runs, and even launched Hasaranga and Mendis for a couple of big sixes. But wickets kept tumbling around him.


Madhevere and Burl struggled to rotate strike, and the spinners tightened the screws. Theekshana picked up 2 wickets, Wellalage was impressive with 3 for 33, and Hasaranga chipped in with 2 for 49 — all three made scoring hard in the middle overs.

​

Brad Evans and Muzarabani swung the bat late, trying to narrow the gap, but by then the game was gone. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 276 in the 48th over — short by 75 runs, despite flashes of resistance.

---

Final Scorecard Summary


Sri Lanka – 351/6 (50 overs)
Zimbabwe –276 all out (47.3 overs)


Result: Sri Lanka won by 75 runs
Top Performer: Wanindu Hasaranga – 57 (26) & 2/49

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – Namibia vs Pakistan

Date: October 1, 2027
Venue: Buffalo Park, East London​

---

Pakistan bounced back well in their second World Cup warm-up, beating Namibia by 7 wickets in East London. After a rough start in their first game, this one was much more solid.


They bowled first, and their fast bowlers got going early. Naseem Shah bowled with good pace and ended up with 3 for 35. Shaheen Afridi did what he usually does — struck with the new ball and got both openers out. He finished with 2 for 24. Haris Rauf got 2 as well. The spinners didn’t take many wickets, but they kept things tight in the middle overs.

​

Namibia fought back a bit after losing early wickets. Their captain, Gerhard Erasmus, batted well for 53. JJ Smit added 41, and Jan Frylinck scored a late 28 to help push the total to 213. But on this pitch, it never really looked like a tough ask. They were all out in the 47th over.


In reply, Pakistan never seemed in trouble. Fakhar Zaman hit a quick 39 to set things up. Then Babar Azam made 61 and Rizwan stayed not out on 67. Agha Salman also played a nice little hand with 26 not out. They chased the target easily in the 39th over.


Namibia’s bowlers got a couple of wickets — Trumpelmann and Frylinck picked up one each — but overall, Pakistan were too strong.


After that first loss, this was exactly what Pakistan needed. Nothing flashy, just a clean and confident win to get things moving in the right direction.

---

Final Scorecard Summary​

Namibia – 213 all out (46.3 overs)
Pakistan – 217/3 (38.5 overs)


Result: Pakistan won by 7 wickets
Top Performer: Naseem Shah – 3/35

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – Australia vs West Indies
Date: October 2, 2027
Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare​

---

Rain Cuts Short Promising Aussie Start in Harare


Australia looked set for something big in Harare — and then the heavens opened.


On a grey, moody afternoon, they were cruising at 172 for 4 in the 29th over, building nicely in their World Cup warm-up against the West Indies. But just as Tim David started to go through the gears, the rain arrived — and it never let up.

​

Earlier, Travis Head gave Australia a cracking start. He was in the zone, throwing punches through the off-side and racing to 47 off just 42 balls. Confident, clean, and setting things up beautifully. When he fell, Tim David took over — and looked seriously dangerous. He powered his way to 41 from 36 balls* and seemed ready to unleash something special before the clouds rolled in for good.

​

West Indies had a rough start with the ball, struggling to find rhythm early on. But Akeal Hosein, calm as ever, brought some order back with 2 for 34 in his six overs — including the big wicket of Head. That gave them a little foothold… and then came the rain.


There were a few hopeful inspections, a lot of waiting around, but the outfield never recovered. Eventually, the call was made: match abandoned, no result.


Frustrating, yes — especially with the game shaping up so nicely. But that’s warm-up cricket for you. Australia looked sharp with the bat, West Indies had some moments with the ball, and both sides now shift focus to their final tune-ups before the real thing begins.

---

Final Scorecard Summary​

Australia – 172/4 (28.3 overs)
West Indies – Did not bat

Result: No Result – Match abandoned due to rain
Top Performer (Australia): Travis Head – 47 (42)

 

[Kamboh]

Warm-up Match – England vs New Zealand

Date: October 2, 2027
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban​

---

Mitchell Masterclass Seals Thrilling Chase as New Zealand Stun England in Kingsmead Classic


Kingsmead witnessed a belter of a warm-up as New Zealand pulled off a stunning run chase, hunting down 344 with just three wickets to spare. It was a game full of fireworks — and at the heart of it was Daryl Mitchell, calm as ever in the chaos, crafting a magnificent century that anchored New Zealand’s charge.


England, sent in to bat, looked like they were setting up a one-sided affair. Jason Roy turned back the clock with a glorious 109 runs — a knock full of clean striking and vintage confidence. Alongside Phil Salt, who blazed his way to 71 runs, England raced to a 124-run opening stand that had New Zealand on the ropes early.


Even after the openers fell, the momentum didn’t really dip. Harry Brook kept things ticking with a smart 47, and then Liam Livingstone exploded at the back end, hammering 51 from just 33 balls. England walked off with 343 on the board — more than enough on most days.


But New Zealand weren’t in the mood to roll over.


Devon Conway got them off to a smooth start, stroking 45 runs. Glenn Phillips added the punch, smashing 72 runs in a counterattacking blitz that rattled England’s bowlers. But the innings truly belonged to Daryl Mitchell.


Coming in at No. 4 with the pressure on, Mitchell never looked flustered. His 106 from 91 balls was a perfect mix of composure and intent — rotating strike when needed, picking his moments, and gradually turning the tide. His partnership with Phillips changed the tone of the chase, dragging New Zealand back into the contest when it could’ve gone south.

​

England clawed their way back through Adil Rashid, who snared 3 for 63 and threatened to trigger a collapse with some smart middle-over bowling. But just when things got tense, Michael Bracewell stepped up. Cool and calculated, he steered New Zealand home with a breezy 34 off 20 balls* — and when he cracked that boundary in the 46th over, the job was done. 344 for 7 in 45.4 overs. Game over.


It was high drama. It was high scoring. And it was a reminder — both teams are capable of brilliance, but New Zealand, when they get it right, are as dangerous as anyone.

---

Final Scorecard Summary​

England – 343/7 (50 overs)
New Zealand – 344/7 (45.4 overs)

Result: New Zealand won by 3 wickets
Top Performer: Daryl Mitchell – 106 (91 balls)

 

[Kamboh]

ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 – Warm-Up Wrap​

The warm-up matches are done, the final tweaks have been made, and the 2027 World Cup is about to get real.


Over a week of unofficial ODIs across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia (Sept 26 – Oct 2), each team got two outings to test combinations, find rhythm, and ease into tournament mode. Some teams clicked early. Others… still have work to do.

---

Who’s Looking Ready?​

Three teams came through unbeaten: India, New Zealand, and South Africa — all with two wins from two, and all showing early signs of tournament form.

• New Zealand chased down 344 against England in a thrilling finish, led by a brilliant century from Daryl Mitchell. They looked sharp across both games.
• India were all business — dominant batting, lethal spin, and two comfortable wins over Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
• South Africa, on home turf, handled Ireland and Afghanistan with confidence and control.
• Australia looked solid in their win over Namibia, but their second game was washed out.

---

The Mixed Bag​

• Pakistan slipped against Afghanistan but bounced back strong against Namibia. A team still settling.
• England showed off their firepower — especially through Jason Roy’s century — but couldn’t defend a massive total against the Kiwis.
• Zimbabwe impressed with a win over West Indies, while Sri Lanka split their games with a mix of grit and inconsistency.
• Afghanistan stunned Pakistan, then ran into South Africa’s discipline.
• Ireland and Netherlands picked up a win each — valuable experience ahead of the main event.
• Bangladesh and Namibia ended winless — not ideal, but still time to turn things around.

---

Final Warm-Up Records​

Team	P	W	L	NR
Afghanistan	2	1	1	0
Australia	2	1	0	1
Bangladesh	2	0	2	0
England	2	1	1	0
India	2	2	0	0
Ireland	2	1	1	0
Namibia	2	0	2	0
Netherlands	2	1	1	0
New Zealand	2	2	0	0
Pakistan	2	1	1	0
South Africa	2	2	0	0
Sri Lanka	2	1	1	0
West Indies	2	0	1	1
Zimbabwe	2	1	1	0

---

Now, It’s On​

Warm-ups don’t decide champions — but they do show who’s settled, who’s experimenting, and who still has a few questions to answer.


The 2027 Cricket World Cup is here. Let the real battles begin.

 

[DuneTiger]

Kiwis to win it all

 

[BasketballHooper]

SA or England will win it