Riding the momentum of consecutive wins against JB Bruges and Antwerp Anchors, Brussels topped the table by sharing points with Liege Red Lions and Ghent Gladiators
Brussels, Belgium – 10th June 2026:
AKCEL United Brussels announced themselves as serious contenders in the
inaugural EUT20 Belgium 2026, opening their campaign with three 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.
Clinical Chase Seals Opening Victory
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.
AKCEL Hold Their Nerve in High-Scoring Thriller
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.
Jarvis Leads Dominant Display Before Rain Intervenes
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.
Rain Forces Abandonment as AKCEL United Remain Top of the Table
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.”
ABOUT AKCEL UNITED BRUSSELS
AKCEL United Brussels is a professional cricket franchise representing Brussels in the EUT20 Belgium League, scheduled to be held from June 6 to June 14, 2026, in Hofstade,
Belgium.
The franchise is owned by Amit Kaushal, a UK-based Non-Resident Indian entrepreneur and
Founder of AKCEL Holding, a diversified global conglomerate with interests
across investment, technology, real estate, motorsports, sports and
entertainment.
Backed byAKCEL Holding, AKCEL United Brussels is part of a broader vision to expand the
footprint of cricket across Europe while building a globally recognised modern
sports franchise.
Combining international stars with emerging local talent, the franchise aims to
contribute to the growth of cricket in Europe through high-performance
competition, fan engagement and long-term development initiatives.
