Akcel United Brussels finish league stage on top at the inaugural season of EUT20 Belgium 2026

POSTED BY : MRUNALI SAKPAL DT. 10/06/2026 📞  8850212023

Brussels, Belgium : RMI.in: Akcel United Brussels announced themselves as serious contenders in the inaugural EUT20 Belgium 2026, opening their campaign with two impressive victories to sit unbeaten after their first four fixtures.

Showcasing the depth and international quality within the squad, Akcel United combined disciplined bowling, explosive batting and composure under pressure to overcome all three JB Bruges, Antwerp Anchors and Liège Red Lions in their encounters at 12 Stars Arena Hofstade.

Akcel United began their campaign with a six-wicket victory over JB Bruges via the DLS Method.

After restricting JB Bruges to 159/7 from their 20 overs, Akcel’s bowling unit shared the workload effectively. Dale Phillips and Khalid Ahmadi claimed two wickets apiece, while Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Greaves and Dawood Ahmadzai contributed with key breakthroughs to prevent the opposition from accelerating in the latter stages of the innings.

In reply, Akcel United suffered an early wobble, losing three top-order wickets inside the opening three overs. However, the side responded in emphatic fashion through an aggressive counterattack led by Tom Rogers and Andries Gous.

Rogers blasted 45 from just 21 deliveries, striking at over 214, while Gous anchored the chase with an unbeaten 37. Dale Phillips added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 17 as Akcel raced to 124/4 in just 12.5 overs to secure the victory.

The second fixture of the second day provided a sterner examination as Antwerp Anchors posted a competitive 174/9 after being put under pressure by Akcel’s bowling attack.

Danru Ferns delivered one of the standout spells of the tournament so far, returning figures of 3/15 from his four overs. Khalid Ahmadi, Sheldon Cottrell, Jack Jarvis and Chris Greaves each chipped in with wickets, while sharp fielding and two crucial run-outs helped keep Antwerp below the 180-run mark.

Chasing 175 for victory, Akcel once again demonstrated the strength of their batting lineup.

Jason Roy laid the foundation with 39, before Tom Rogers continued his outstanding day with a blistering 41 from only 20 balls. The momentum shifted decisively in Akcel’s favour through a composed and powerful unbeaten innings from Dale Phillips, who struck 42 not out from 24 deliveries, including four boundaries and two sixes.

Despite regular wickets falling at key moments, Akcel maintained control of the chase and crossed the finish line with four wickets in hand and six balls to spare, finishing on 178/6 in 19 overs.

Akcel United Brussels made an outstanding start with the ball against Liege Red Lions, led by a fiery spell from Jack Jarvis. The right-arm seamer struck on the very first ball of the second over, dismissing Faf du Plessis for just one run, with Rilee Rossouw safely taking the catch.

Jarvis continued his early assault by trapping Ali Raza lbw just three deliveries later before clean bowling Ben Dunk to leave Liege Red Lions reeling at 15/3. He finished with impressive figures of 3/12 from his two overs, setting the tone for Akcel United’s disciplined bowling performance.

Sheldon Cottrell kept the pressure on with an economical spell, conceding just five runs in his three overs while claiming the wicket of Shoaib Malik. Khalid Ahmadi then chipped in with two crucial wickets, removing Gerhard Erasmus and Hayden Kerr in quick succession.

At 82/6 after 11.1 overs, with Corey Anderson and Jasper Davidson at the crease, the match was ultimately abandoned due to rain and both the teams shared the points. Making Akcel United the team at the points table to lead with 5 points.

Akcel United Brussels won the toss and elected to field first against Ghent Gladiators on Day 4 of the EUT20 Belgium 2026. After a lengthy delay caused by a wet outfield, play eventually got underway at 10:15 AM, nearly two hours after the scheduled start time.

The delayed start did little to affect Akcel’s intensity, with right-arm medium pacer Jack Jarvis striking with the very first ball of the innings. Jarvis found the outside edge of Sam Harper’s bat, and wicketkeeper Andries Gous completed an excellent catch behind the stumps to hand Akcel the ideal start.

Ghent Gladiators responded positively to the early setback, with their batters counterattacking during the powerplay to reach 65/1. Just as Josh Brown appeared set to bring up a half-century, Belgian international Sheraz Sheikh provided the breakthrough Akcel needed. Introduced into the attack in the sixth over, Sheikh dismissed Brown and halted Ghent’s momentum at a crucial stage.

With Ghent positioned at 91/2, rain once again interrupted proceedings and ultimately prevented any further play. The match was subsequently abandoned, resulting in the points being shared between the two teams.

While the weather denied Akcel United the opportunity to continue their winning run, the shared point was enough to keep them at the top of the EUT20 Belgium standings with six points, further strengthening their position as the tournament progresses.

Two victories, an unbeaten start, and early qualification for the playoffs represent a remarkable opening chapter for Akcel United Brussels in the inaugural EUT20 Belgium 2026.

“AKCEL United Brussels was created to build a franchise that represents the ambition and diversity of Brussels. Starting our journey with two consecutive victories is incredibly encouraging, and we look forward to continuing our contribution to the growth of cricket across Europe.” said Amit Kaushal, Owner of Akcel United Brussels and Founder of AKCEL Holding.

Talking about the matches coach Mark Boucher said, “When we built this squad, the focus was not just on star power. We wanted proven match-winners, strong characters and players eager to embrace a new cricketing journey. The balance we have achieved gives us every reason to believe AKCEL United Brussels is one of the most exciting teams in the tournament.”