Published: September 20, 2026 at 10:43 am
Skipper Glenn Maxwell helps Belfast Wolves book their place in the ETPL final with a seven-wicket victory over Amsterdam Flames in the qualifier at Malahide. Maxwell’s four-wicket haul helped restrict Amsterdam to 133, before the Wolves chased down the target in 18.3 overs, with nine balls to spare.
“Turned out it was receptive to spin and kept going. We had to change our tactics a bit at the back end. Halfway through the Guardians game, we were joking we might be on the plane back. It started off like a decent wicket, but as soon as spin came on, the ball seemed to react differently. We went spin-heavy and had so many options to chop and change. Game-by-game, we’ve been getting better and there was energy in the field. We knew we will miss Miller for the final and Chappy had a freak injury. Tector played his role and set the platform for what we do at the back end,” said Maxwell, who was named Player of the Match.
Belfast Wolves celebrate their win over Amsterdam Flames in the ETPL
Amsterdam were asked to bat first and made a steady start through Yuvraaj Samra and Steven Smith. The pair added 46 for the opening wicket before Samra was run out for 27 from 20 balls, having struck three fours and a six.
Consistent Amsterdam Flames face maverick Belfast Wolves in high-stakes ETPL qualifier
Smith continued to anchor the innings, scoring 45 from 42 deliveries, but Amsterdam struggled to build partnerships around him. Bas de Leede, Tim David and Curtis Campher were dismissed in quick succession, leaving the Flames at 74 for four.
Maxwell spins Belfast to strong position
Maxwell took control with the ball. The Belfast captain claimed four wickets for just 18 runs from his four overs, removing de Leede, David, Campher and Michael Bracewell as Amsterdam’s middle order unravelled.
Matthew Humphreys provided further pressure with three wickets for 22 runs, while Chris Jordan took one. Smith fell in the 15th over, and although Scott Edwards made 14 and Max O’Dowd scored 17, Amsterdam were bowled out for 133 in 20 overs. Aryan Dutt added 15 from 11 balls before becoming Jordan’s victim.
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The Wolves’ chase began with the early dismissal of Paul Stirling, who made eight, but Tim Tector and Devon Conway steadied the innings. Tector scored 28 from 21 balls, including four boundaries, while Conway contributed 35 from 41 deliveries.
Amsterdam found a breakthrough when Tector was stumped off Dutt, and Michael Bracewell later dismissed Conway to leave Belfast at 96 for three in the 16th over.
Steve Smith anchored the Amsterdam Flames’ innings with 45 from 42 deliveries
Lorcan Tucker and Maxwell then ensured there would be no late uncertainty. Tucker remained unbeaten on 34 from 30 balls, while Maxwell struck an explosive 21 not out from just eight deliveries, hitting three sixes at a strike rate of 262.50. Their unbroken stand carried Belfast to 136 for three in 18.3 overs, sealing a seven-wicket win and confirming their place in the final.
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“Obviously, not our best performance there and a little bit of a tricky wicket and we didn’t adjust. We lost during the seven-eight over period during the middle. We felt we were 20 short of what we should’ve got. We would have liked 160, but it was taking turn and disappointing. I’m sure there are little bits and pieces, a couple of shots and it’s tricky. We didn’t play our best cricket. Proud of the boys – how we fought back from a slow start and set us up nicely. But we didn’t put up our best today,” said Flames’ captain Scott Edwards.
Maxwell show all the way
Maxwell’s performance shaped the contest at both ends: his four wickets restricted Amsterdam to a modest total and he produced his best bowling figures in T20 with 4/18, and his late hitting helped finish the chase. Humphreys’ three-wicket contribution also proved crucial in keeping the Flames from building a stronger platform.
For Amsterdam, Smith’s 45 was the innings’ top score, but the team’s middle-order collapse left them with too little to defend. Belfast, meanwhile, combined a disciplined bowling display with a measured chase before Maxwell’s late assault brought the qualifier to a close.
Devon Conway top scored with 35 to set up Belfast Wolves’ chase
The contrast between the two innings was decisive. Amsterdam lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to turn Smith’s contribution into a larger total. Belfast, despite losing Stirling early and later seeing Tector and Conway depart, kept the chase on course before their rapid finish removed any remaining doubt.
The Wolves now advance to the ETPL final with Edinburgh on Sunday, while Amsterdam’s campaign ends in the qualifier. For Belfast, the victory sets up the tournament’s final challenge after a performance built around Maxwell’s impact with both bat and ball.
Brief scores: Amsterdam Flames 133 in 20 overs (Yuvraaj Samra 27, Steve Smith 45; Glenn Maxwell 4/18, Matthew 3/22) lost to Belfast Wolves 136 for three in 18.3 overs (Tim Tector 28, Devon Conway 35, Lorcan Tucker 34 not out, Glenn Maxwell 21 not out; Michael Bracewell 2/20).
