Rain Washes Out England-India T20I Opener After Strong Indian Batting Display; Zimbabwe Secure Historic Test Win
The abandoned T20I leaves the five-match series level at 0-0, while Zimbabwe's dominant victory against Bangladesh marks their biggest-ever Test win.
The story
Heavy rain forced the abandonment of the first T20I between England and India at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, after India had posted a formidable 189/7 in their 20 overs. Despite persistent showers throughout India's innings, play continued, but the weather ultimately prevented England from beginning their chase.
India's innings was highlighted by captain Shreyas Iyer's composed 68 off 47 balls, anchoring the recovery after an early wobble. Abhishek Sharma provided a blistering start with 59 off just 24 deliveries, and Shivam Dube added a late flourish with an unbeaten 42 from 21 balls.
For England, Saqib Mahmood was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3/33. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe completed a historic innings and 85-run victory over Bangladesh in their one-off Test at Harare Sports Club. This marks Zimbabwe's biggest-ever Test win and their first back-to-back Test victories in over 25 years.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs India | T20I | Match abandoned due to rain | Shreyas Iyer (IND) 68 (47) |
| Zimbabwe vs Bangladesh | Test | Zimbabwe won by an innings and 85 runs | Innocent Kaia (ZIM) 140 |
| Sweden vs Portugal | T20I | Portugal won by 12 runs | Carlos Nunes (POR) |
| Sweden vs Portugal | T20I | Portugal won by 7 wickets | Sebastian De Oliveira (POR) 4/25 |
Series in play
India tour of England, 2026. 5-match T20I series, level 0-0 after 1st T20I abandoned
Bangladesh tour of Zimbabwe, 2026. One-off Test, Zimbabwe won 1-0
Portugal tour of Sweden, 2026. 3-match T20I series, Portugal lead 2-0 with one match to play
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings | 1. India (272 points), 2. England (262 points), 3. Australia (260 points) | India retains the top spot despite a recent series defeat to Ireland. |
| ICC Men's Test Team Rankings | 1. Australia (131 points), 2. South Africa (119 points), 3. New Zealand (106 points) | Australia continues to lead the Test rankings. |
| ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings | 1. Ishan Kishan (India) | Ishan Kishan has climbed to the top spot, displacing teammate Abhishek Sharma. |
What we'll be watching
- Sweden vs Portugal: 3rd T20I, July 2, 08:00 UTC at Botkyrka Cricket Center
- West Indies vs Sri Lanka: 2nd Test, Day 1, July 3, 14:00 UTC at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
- Finland vs Portugal: 1st T20I, July 3, 15:00 UTC at Kerava National Cricket Ground
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