Preparation for the upcoming European sub-regional qualifiers for the 2024 T20 World Cup continues apace with Malta's visit to Belgium for three T20Is this weekend the latest in many such series.

The series started yesterday morning with the home team batting first after being put in. They set out their stall with a 135 run opening partnership between Muhammad Muneeb and Aziz Mohammad, that partnership ending when the latter was out for 56. Muneeb went on to score 73 whilst a quick 51 from 25 balls by Saber Zakhil helped Belgium post 233-6 from their 20 overs.

Varun Thamotharam top scored in Malta's reply but there were no other contributions of note as they were restricted to 122-8 and lost by 111 runs.

The second T20I was that same afternoon with Belgium again batting first, this time after they won the toss. There was no double success for Muneeb as he fell for a second ball duck but Aziz Mohammad was in the runs again with 46. A pair of 41s by Sheraz Sheikh and Shaheryar Butt combined with a blistering ten-ball 34 by Saber Zakhil helped the hosts score 196-5.

The sole contribution of note for Malta in their reply came from number nine Amar Sharma who scored an unbeaten 34 as they were bowled out for 112. Khalid Ahmadi took 4-38 for Belgium as they won by 84 runs.

On to today's final match of the series with Belgium yet again batting first. Top score this time came from Aziz Mohammad with 35 as they were bowled out for 162, Bilal Muhammad taking 4-18. Malta offered little resistance in their reply and were bowled out for just 40 with no batter reaching double figures. Khalid Ahmadi was the best bowler for a second match in a row taking four wickets for just five runs.

Malta and Belgium are both in group C of the European sub-regionally which, somewhat annoyingly, will be the first of the three groups to take place, starting on 28th June. Belgium will host and the other six teams involved will be Denmark, Gibraltar, Hungary, Israel, Portugal and Spain.