The first round of the 2022 T20 World Cup ended with Zimbabwe beating Scotland and qualifying for the second round of the tournament for the first time in their history. Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and Ireland have also made the cut to the Super 12. Here’s Wisden’s team of the tournament from the first round of the competition.
To bet on the World Cup, head to bet365
Max O’Dowd – The Netherlands
129 runs @ 64.50, SR: 121.69, HS: 71*
No other player from the Netherlands team could score more than 60 runs in a match, which evidences the impact he had on their qualification. He scored 23 off 18 in the first game and then struck a run-a-ball 35 in the second as the Netherlands were made to chase low targets. Against Sri Lanka, chasing 163, he scored 71* off 53 in a losing cause when no other player from the side could cross 25.
Kusal Mendis – Sri Lanka
103 runs @ 34.33, SR: 163.49, HS: 79
Mendis had the third-highest strike rate among all batters with at least 40 runs in the first round of the event. He started off by scoring six in as many balls, following up with a 13-ball 18 before winning the Player of the Match award for 79 off 44 deliveries in Sri Lanka’s win over the Netherlands.
George Munsey – Scotland
121 runs @ 60.50, SR: 114.15, HS: 66*
Munsey was the only batter who scored two fifties in the Group Stage. He played a big role big role in his side’s remarkable victory over the West Indies, top-scoring with an unbeaten 66 off 53 balls. In Scotland’s final do-or-die game against Zimbabwe he scored a fighting fifty in vain, as his side battled on a tricky pitch. But he lost his wicket at a crucial time in the innings and expressed disappointment that he couldn’t kick on and get his team to a more competitive total in an interview between innings.
Bas de Leede – The Netherlands
58 runs @ 29.00, SR: 100, HS: 30*
7 wickets @ 9.71, ER: 7.55, BBI: 3-19
De Leede comes into the team for his bowling alongside his abilities with the bat. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker, picking up seven scalps for the Netherlands on their way to qualification. He won the Player of the Match award against Namibia, where he made 30* in as many balls in a tough run-chase, also bagging 2-18 with the ball. De Leede had a bowling strike rate of 7.7 – the best among all the bowlers in the round.
Curtis Campher – Ireland
99 runs @ 99.00, SR: 183.33, HS: 72*
2 wickets @ 33, ER: 9.42, BBI: 2-9
Campher ended the round with the best strike rate among all the batters. His best game was against Scotland where he walked out to bat with his side at 57-3 and needing 177 for the win. He struck 72* in only 32 balls at a strike rate of 225, sharing a spectacular 119-run partnership with George Dockrell after taking 2-9 in the two overs he bowled.
Sikandar Raza – Zimbabwe
136 runs @ 45.33, SR: 172.15, HS: 82
5 wickets @ 12.20, ER: 5.54, BBI: 3-19
Raza continued his year of excellent form in the first stage of the 2022 T20 World Cup, starring with both bat and ball. He was the highest run-scorer after all had played their three matches, hitting eight maximums which was also the most among all the players. Raza did not star with the bat against West Indies but picked up a three-for as they were restricted to 153-7.
David Wiese – Namibia
66 runs @ 33.00, SR: 157.14, HS: 55
3 wickets @ 21.66, ER: 6.19, BBI: 2-16
It was heartbreak for Wiese and Namibia as they lost by seven runs against UAE and bowed out of the event. Chasing 149 in their final match, Namibia were reduced to 46-5 by the UAE before Wiese walked out. The all-rounder increased his side’s hopes of a win with a 36-ball 55 but fell to Muhammad Waseem in the last over. Namibia went on to lose by seven runs and finish third in Group A.
Jason Holder – West Indies
5 wickets @ 9.80, ER: 4.74, BBI: 3-12
A consistent performer for West Indies, Holder was well in amongst the wickets. He picked up 2-14 against Scotland and then grabbed 3-12 against Zimbabwe. He also top-scored with 38 runs in the first game but the lack of contributions from others meant the West Indies were bowled out for 118 in their final match of the group, and failed to qualify for the Super 12 for the first time since 2007.
Wanindu Hasaranga – Sri Lanka
7 wickets @ 9.00, ER: 5.25, BBI: 3-8
Hasaranga picked up at least a wicket in all three games, including taking three-for on two occasions, against the UAE and the Netherlands. He helped bowl out his side’s Asia rivals for 73, and was the highest wicket-taker in the next game, picking up 3-28 as Sri Lanka won by 16 runs.
Maheesh Theekshana – Sri Lanka
5 wickets @ 14, ER: 6.26, BBI: 2-15
The off-spinner started off with a wicket against Namibia before picking up two wickets apiece against the Netherlands and the UAE. He played a crucial role in his side bouncing back from their first match defeat and qualifying for the next stage of the tournament.
Alzarri Joseph – West Indies
6 wickets @ 13.83, ER: 6.91, BBI: 4-16
Joseph increased the chances of his team qualifying for the second round with figures of 4-16 against Zimbabwe and was reasonably accurate until the last game. He was the West Indies best bowler and led the attack well, but none of the bowlers had anything to answer Paul Stirling and Ireland with, slumping to a nine-wicket defeat in their final match.
