Belfast Wolves (BLW) will take on Dublin Guardians (DBG) in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) 2026 at Sportpark Duivesteijn in Voorburg on Thursday. Both teams have assembled squads featuring a mix of international stars and players familiar with European conditions, setting up an intriguing contest in their opening game.
BLW will be led by Glenn Maxwell and have plenty of firepower in their batting lineup, with David Miller, Devon Conway, Paul Stirling and Mark Chapman among their key options. However, several of their established players have struggled for consistency recently, and the side will need its big names to find form quickly.
DBG, meanwhile, have Ravichandran Ashwin as their captain and boast plenty of experience through players such as James Vince, Muhammad Waseem, and George Dockrell. Their bowling attack appears well balanced, but their batting could come under pressure against a strong BLW lineup.
BLW vs DBG, ETPL 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: August 27, 11:30 am Local / 9:30 am GMT / 3:00 pm IST
- Venue: Sportpark Duivesteijn, Voorburg
BLW vs DBG Head-to-Head Record in T20s
Belfast Wolves have not yet faced Dublin Guardians in the ETPL. As both franchises are new to the competition, there is no previous head-to-head record between the two teams.
Sportpark Duivesteijn Pitch Report
The surface at Sportpark Duivesteijn is expected to favour batters, with the synthetic pitch likely to provide consistent bounce and good pace. The short boundaries could also make it easier for set batters to find the ropes, although fast bowlers may get some early carry and bounce with the new ball. Spinners may not receive much turn from the surface and could instead rely on variations in pace. A score around 170 should be competitive, while the consistent nature of the pitch could make chasing a preferred option after winning the toss.
Squads
Belfast Wolves: Glenn Maxwell (c), Tim Tector, David Miller, Mark Chapman, Paul Stirling, Alexander Roy, Harry Manenti, Devon Conway, Lorcan Tucker, Matthew Humphreys, Fred Klaasen, Zainullah Ihsan, Saurabh Netravalkar, Chris Jordan, Gavin Hoey, Mark Adair, Crishan Kalugamage
Dublin Guardians: Ravichandran Ashwin (c), Benjamin Calitz, James Vince, Muhammad Waseem, Vijay Shankar, Daryl Mitchell, George Dockrell, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Noah Croes, Matthew Hollard, Craig Young, Chris Greaves, Chris Wood, Joshua Little, Peter Hatzoglou
BLW vs DBG, Today’s match prediction
Case 1:
- BLW wins the toss and bowls first
- DBG’s powerplay score: 50-55
- DBG’s total score: 160-170
Case 2:
- DBG wins the toss and bowls first
- BLW’s powerplay score: 55-60
- BLW’s total score: 175-185
Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.
