‘Mad Dog’ wins it for Sri Lankan Lions Limassol
Limassol Warriors kicked off their campaign in the 2026 Cyprus Cricket T20 Cup, presented by HurryCurry, with a surprise victory over last year’s semi-finalists, Cyprus Knight Riders.
In a low-scoring contest, Limassol Warriors captain Arvind Kumar teamed up effectively with Takdeer Kundu to bowl out the Knight Riders for just 93, securing a 22-run win. Defending a target of 116, the Knight Riders collapsed to 30/8, with Kumar delivering an outstanding spell of 4/8. Earlier, Limassol Warriors owed much to Abhay Parmar’s 48, while Mirajul Islam impressed for the Knight Riders with figures of 5/24.
In the day’s opening match, Eagle CC comfortably defeated Moufflons, largely due to Tajinder Kumar’s 37, which was aided by three dropped catches. Moufflons were sloppy in the field, missing more than half a dozen chances as Eagle CC posted 156/8. In response, Moufflons were dismissed for just 66 in 12.2 overs, with all seven Eagle bowlers amongst the wickets.
Ashish Bam (43) maintained his strong form, guiding Nicosia Tigers to 134/8 in 20 overs, supported by Arjun Shahi (23), against last week’s surprise winners, Larnaka Warriors. Akram Khan stood out with 3/17 for Larnaka Warriors, but their batting faltered as they were bowled out for just 72 in 15.5 overs. Tahmidur Rahman starred with the ball, taking 5/25 to secure a convincing 62-run win for Nicosia Tigers.
The match between debutants Global 75 Cricketers and New Limassol Moufflons featured the first century partnership of the season. Muhammad Sufian (93) and veteran Ghulam Murtaza (51) put on 115 runs at the top, powering New Limassol Moufflons to 197/5. Despite a spirited chase led by RB Tawhid’s 50, Global 75 Cricketers fell short, as Abdul Rehman (3/23) and Sufian (2/20) sealed an emphatic 86-run victory.
The only successful chase of the day came from the Sri Lankan Lions Limassol Cricket Club thanks to a standout performance by birthday boy Kavindu Maduranga, also known as “Mad Dog.” Gujrat Lions were restricted to 119 all out in 19.4 overs, with Kavindu (2/32) and Kamal Raiz (2/21) leading the bowling effort. The pair then combined for a match-winning partnership, guiding their team to a six-wicket victory with 3.3 overs to spare. Kavindu remained unbeaten on 64, while Raiz added 20.
Next week’s schedule features four more matches in the tournament, as players aim to impress ahead of selection for the national squad competing in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Sub-Regional Qualifiers. The tournament will take place in Cyprus from May 14–24 in Episkopi, with 10 European teams vying for a spot in the 2027 regional finals. Spectator registration is now open at www.cricket.cy/icc26