Afghanistan Wins Hong Kong Sixes 2026 Title

Afghanistan made history on Sunday, November 1, 2026, by claiming its maiden Hong Kong Sixes title with a four-wicket victory over Australia in the tournament final. Chasing a target of 115 runs in six overs, Afghanistan successfully reached 119 for two with five balls to spare, capping off three days of fast-paced cricket.

The thrilling final showcased resilient batting from Afghanistan after Australia posted 115 runs in their allotted six overs. Max Bryant led Australia with a blistering 44 runs off 14 deliveries, supported by Nick Hobson's 23 and Alex Ross's unbeaten 29. Despite early setbacks that saw Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib depart quickly, Afghanistan turned the game around through a crucial, unbeaten partnership.

Imran Mir anchored the successful chase with an explosive 53 not out off just 14 balls, which included seven sixes. He was supported by Farmanullah Safi, who smashed an unbeaten 26 off seven deliveries to secure the historic victory for Afghanistan and seal their status as the 2026 Cup Division champions.

The tournament's final day also featured several other division triumphs and placement matches. In the Bowl Division final, South Africa dominated England to claim the title, driven by a standout performance from Blake Simpson, who hit a 12-ball half-century, and valuable contributions from Jorich van Schalkwyk.

South Africa secured their spot in the Bowl final after a dramatic last-ball victory against Bangladesh in the semifinals. Chasing a formidable target of 129, South Africa stayed in contention thanks to Jorich van Schalkwyk's magnificent 50 off 13 balls. Ayabulela Gqamane added late momentum with four consecutive sixes before van Schalkwyk sealed the dramatic win on the final delivery.

Meanwhile, Pakistan retained its competitive edge by winning the Plate final against Oman in a high-scoring encounter that featured 22 sixes. Pakistan posted 154 runs, propelled by captain Abbas Afridi's rapid 73 off 16 balls, and successfully defended the total despite strong half-centuries from Oman openers Zohaib Amanat and Usman Afridi.

In other classification matches, Scotland secured third place in the Cup Division by defeating the United Arab Emirates by 46 runs, following a stellar 53-run knock off 11 balls from Michael Leask. Team India wrapped up their tournament campaign with a narrow last-ball victory over Bangladesh in the Bowl Division playoff, finishing eleventh among the twelve participating teams after strong performances from Shashank Singh and Rahul Tripathi.