Portugal played host to both the men's and women's teams of Norway over the past three days for a pair of three-match T20I series, with the home team winning both by two games to one.
Both series began on Monday, with the women's match being the first ever appearance in international cricket for the Portuguese women's team. Batting first after winning the toss they scored 109-9 from their 20 overs with Kiona Sequiera's unbeaten 37 their top score. Gabriella Sequiera and Ishreet Cheema then both took three wickets to help bowl the visitors out for 93 to win by 16 runs, with 43 of Norway's runs coming in extras.
In the second game yesterday, Sarah Foo-Ryland and Gabriella Sequiera both scored an unbeaten 52 and shared in a 112 run second wicket partnership as the home side reached 136-1 from their 20 overs. Norway chased down their target with eight balls to spare, winning by five wickets, with extras again being a significant contribution with 57.
Norway batted first in today's deciding game and scored 124-7. Extras was not the top scorer this time with just 25 runs. Instead Ayesha Hasan top scored with 54. Portugal made light work of their target though with Sarah Foo-Ryland and Gabriella Sequiera in the runs again with 51 and 63 respectively as part of an unbroken 123 run partnership for the second wicket in the nine wicket win to secure the 2-1 series win.
The winning Portugal women's squad (European Cricket Network)
The men's series also began on Monday with the home side fielding five debutants. Norway were put into bat and scored 154-6 from their 20 overs, Faisal Raza's unbeaten 37 their top score. Portugal were then bowled out for 115 in their reply, losing by 39 runs.
In the second game yesterday Norway again batted first, this time after winning the toss, and scoring 137-7. Qamar Mushtaque's unbeaten 43 was their top score. Conrad Greenshields then scored an unbeaten 67 from 46 balls to help secure a four wicket win for the hosts and level the series.
The deciding game today saw the hosts win the toss and choose to bat first. Dhavalkumar Norotam clubbed 84 from only 55 balls to help his team post 189-8 from their 20 overs. Sherman Vaz took 4-22 in the Norway reply to help restrict them to 135-9. The 54 run win helped secure the 2-1 series win for the home side.
