Belfast Wolves defeat Dublin Guardians by 52 runs in ETPL 2026

The Belfast Wolves began their inaugural European T20 Premier League campaign with a convincing 52-run victory over the Dublin Guardians in their second match of the tournament. The contest, played at Sportpark Westvliet in Voorburg, Netherlands, on August 27, 2026, saw the Wolves recover from an early collapse to post a competitive total before their bowling attack dismantled the Guardians' chase. After a rain-affected start, Dublin Guardians captain Ravichandran Ashwin won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Belfast Wolves, led by captain and co-owner Glenn Maxwell, were reduced to 48 for three after an initial setback. However, a stabilizing partnership between Mark Chapman and Maxwell turned the innings around. Chapman scored a composed 54 from 33 balls, while Maxwell anchored the innings with a decisive 60 from 38 deliveries, earning him the Player of the Match award. Their 84-run partnership for the fifth wicket propelled Belfast to a total of 184 for seven in their 20 overs. For Dublin, Chris Wood was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 43 runs. The Dublin Guardians' chase began disastrously, losing Harry Tector for a duck on the second ball.