Nunes’ late-innings detonation
Carlos Nunes turned a drifting innings into a match-winning total, launching Portugal’s charge at the death to set Sweden 170 and seal a 12-run win. After Portugal slipped in the middle overs, Nunes’ 67 off 30 changed the tempo in a hurry, forcing Sweden to chase at a rate that never really dipped. Sweden’s reply had moments of threat, but the required rate and regular breakthroughs kept the target just out of reach.
Death-overs surge decides it
The game was won in Portugal’s final five overs: 60 runs for three wickets at a staggering 15 an over. Portugal had managed only 61/4 through the middle phase, but the acceleration at the back end transformed a par-looking score into a demanding one. That burst meant Sweden, despite a steady mid-innings scoring rate of 8.1, needed a near-perfect finish and ended up with 36/3 in the last five — not enough to bridge the gap.
Nunes, Boshoff, Nipo stand out
Nunes was the standout, combining power and timing to dominate the decisive phase and earn MVP honours. Boshoff’s 47 off 27 gave Sweden their clearest path, but support was fleeting. With the ball, Md Siraj Nipo’s 2/23 was crucial in choking the chase’s engine room, while Edward Fleming’s 2/31 helped ensure Portugal’s death-overs damage wasn’t undone.
Sweden’s chase keeps stalling
Sweden began cautiously at 39/1 in the powerplay, then tried to build through a modest best stand of 30 between Wynand Boshoff and Samiullah Rahmani. But every time the chase hinted at control, a wicket reset the equation. Portugal’s bowlers kept the squeeze on through the middle, and by the time Sweden entered the final stretch, the asking rate demanded boundary bursts rather than rotation.
SWSweden
117/1
FIFinland
116/10
SWSweden
165/6
AUAustria
90/10
FIFinland
108/9
SWSweden
107/10
SWSweden
138/5
NONorway
137/9
SWSweden
152/7
FRFrance
153/8
SWSweden
156/10
NONorway
179/4
SWSweden
136/10
AUAustria
139/6
SWSweden
162/7
FRFrance
128/8
SWSweden
122/8
DEGermany
151/8
AUAustria
133/7
SWSweden
132/6
PRPortugal
189/8
NONorway
135/9
PRPortugal
138/6
NONorway
137/7
PRPortugal
115/10
NONorway
154/6
GIGibraltar
124/5
PRPortugal
129/9
MLMalta
156/4
PRPortugal
157/3
PRPortugal
93/1
GIGibraltar
90/8
MLMalta
145/10
PRPortugal
162/10
GIGibraltar
171/9
PRPortugal
174/3
PRPortugal
160/6
MLMalta
76/10
PRPortugal
136/7
MLMalta
132/8