Denmark, Italy one step from T20 World Cup 2024 as Europe qualification continues
Joining the pair at the European Qualifier next year will be the winner of the third Sub-Regional Qualifier in Finland, featuring ten teams from across the region.
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Denmark overcome early tournament defeat to win in Belgium
Belgium sent shockwaves through the first Sub-Regional Qualifier when they claimed an upset 12-run win over the Danes, though Freddie Klokker's men found their feet in the knockout stages, brushing aside Spain before and thumping final win over Portugal.
Star Danish all-rounder Nicolaj Laegsgaard was ever-present during the tournament, leading both the runs and wickets tally at the competition, adding nine wickets to an impressive 189-run campaign (SR 177, Average 37.80).
Taking 2/11 (4) in the final, Laegsgaard fell first ball in Denmark's chase to leave the door ajar for Portugal, only for Taranjit Bharaj (58* from 43 balls) and Hamid Shah (44* from 37 balls) to slam it shut.
After losing to Portugal in the semi-finals, Belgium edged Spain in a final-ball thriller to claim third.
Malta overcame Gibraltar to claim fifth spot, while Israel held on in a 12-run victory over Hungary to finish seventh.
Italy conquer all in Finland
Gareth Berg's side were largely untroubled in their successful Sub-Regional campaign, undefeated and comprehensive in their final victory over Isle of Man.
Harry Manenti enjoyed his first assignment in national colours taking the wickets of the top three in the final, finishing with 3/14 (4) and holding Matthew Ansell's side to 101/8. In response, Marcus Campopiano's 35* (21) ensured their was no Manx comeback, with the Italians passing the 102 target in the 11th over.
Finland finished in third with a win over Cyprus, with Sweden defeating Romania to claim fifth. Croatia hung on in a three-wicket win over Serbia to claim seventh, with Turkey and Greece the only teams to go winless at the tournament.
Who will take the third spot from the Sub-Regionals?
Ten teams meet in Finland for the final spot in the regional Qualifier beginning on July 24, with Guernsey the favourite to prevail in Kerava.
Josh Butler’s side will face Austria, Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Slovenia, while the other group pits Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Norway and Switzerland together.
The Norwegians could lay claim to being favourites on the other side of the draw, though will face tough competition particularly from the Czechs, as well as the Swiss, with the latter re-entering qualifying after being reinstated as an ICC Member last year.
France meanwhile will earn their first T20I ranking while at the tournament, by virtue of playing the required number of matches. Group rivals Estonia are equal 73rd on the rankings, though are yet to earn their first ranking points.
The table-toppers of each group will meet in the final, with the winner travelling to next year's continental Qualifier.
Who features in the Europe Qualifier Next Year?
The winners of the Sub-Regional tournaments move to the European Finals next year, with two allocated spots for the 2024 tournament in the USA and West Indies.
Denmark, Italy and the winner of the third Sub-Regional tournament join Jersey, Germany, as well as the European sides who fail to secure 2024 qualification through the 2022 tournament: Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland.
What is the format of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024?
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has been expanded to 20 teams, with qualification moving from global qualifiers to qualifiers through the five regions.
The top two teams at the European Regional Final series alongside qualifiers from the East-Asia Pacific, Africa, Asia and Americas regions will earn a place at the 2024 tournament alongside 12 automatically-qualifying teams made up of:
- the USA and West Indies as the hosts in 2024
- the top eight teams at the Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia later this year
- the next highest-ranked teams in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings as of 14 November 2022
**Sub-Regional Qualifiers B Matches:**Austria v Luxembourg: 24 July
Norway v Estonia: 24 July
Guernsey v Bulgaria: 24 July
France v Czech Republic: 24 July
Czech Republic v Norway: 25 July
Slovenia v Austria: 25 July
Switzerland v France: 25 July
Luxembourg v Guernsey: 25 July
Guernsey v Austria: 27 July
Estonia v Switzerland: 27 July
Bulgaria v Slovenia: 27 July
Norway v France: 27 July
Switzerland v Norway: 28 July
Bulgaria v Luxembourg: 28 July
Estonia v Czech Republic: 28 July
Slovenia v Guernsey: 28 July
Austria v Bulgaria: 30 July
Czech Republic v Switzerland: 30 July
Luxembourg v Slovenia: 30 July
France v Estonia: 30 July
7/8 Playoff - TBD v TBD: 31 July
5/6 Playoff - TBD v TBD: 31 July
3/4 Playoff - TBD v TBD: 31 July
The Final - TBD v TBD: 31 July
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