France vs Norway, 9th Match

The 9th match of the Portugal T20I Tri-Series 2026 features France taking on Norway at the Santarem Cricket Ground. Both teams have shown competitive spirit throughout the tournament, but France enters the contest with a slight edge due to their recent form and balanced squad. France has displayed resilience with both bat and ball, leveraging strategic partnerships and disciplined bowling. Their top order, led by consistent performers, has frequently laid solid foundations, while their bowling attack has effectively contained runs and taken timely wickets. Norway, on the other hand, has been impressive with a few standout individual performances, particularly in the middle order and their spin department. However, their bowling has occasionally lacked penetration, especially on a pitch that assists batters once it comes under light. Historically, the France vs Norway encounters have been closely fought affairs, with both teams sharing wins in their limited past meetings. Norway’s strategy is likely to revolve around aggressive batting upfront and trying to exploit the middle overs with spin and pace variations. France will probably depend on their disciplined bowling unit and pragmatic batting to chase or set competitive totals. With both sides capable of producing match-winning performances but France showing a slight edge in teamwork and consistency, the winning probability leans in their favor.

France: 57%, Norway: 43%

If France bat first, considering the Santarem pitch’s tendency to ease out as the innings progresses, they are likely to post a competitive total around 150-160 runs. Their strong top and middle order can build partnerships and accelerate in the latter stages. Conversely, if Norway bat first, a score in the range of 140-150 is probable. The pitch offers some assistance for spinners early on, which may slow the scoring, but the ground’s relatively small dimensions provide opportunities for quick scoring in the death overs. Both teams will aim to bat aggressively upfront to capitalize on the powerplay before consolidating.

The Santarem Cricket Ground offers a balanced pitch that generally assists batters once settled, with some early help for spinners. Historically, the average first-innings score at the venue hovers around 145-155 runs in T20 matches. Chasing teams have found moderate success here, with a win percentage of about 52%, indicating a slight advantage in chasing totals. Weather on match day is forecast to be sunny with mild temperatures around 22°C, minimal chance of rain, and moderate humidity — ideal conditions for playing good cricket. For France and Norway, the best bowler recorded at this ground remains France’s Amir Hamza with figures of 4 for 15, while the top batsman is Norway’s Erik Johansen, who scored an unbeaten 74 runs here in a previous match. These performances highlight the key threats expected from both sides.

Matches Played	France Wins	Norway Wins
6	3	3

Team Recent Performance

Team	Last 5 Matches (W-L)
France	3-2
Norway	2-3

Amir Hamza (France) - The lead bowler for France recently took 10 wickets in the series, including a 4-wicket haul on this ground, showing his ability to restrict runs and take key wickets.

Julien Dupont (France) - A consistent middle-order batsman who has anchored innings with valuable 30+ scores and has the capability to accelerate when needed.

Erik Johansen (Norway) - Norway’s standout batsman who scored an unbeaten 74 at Santarem earlier; he is in good form and crucial for Norway’s batting strength.

Sander Larsen (Norway) - A versatile spinner who has picked wickets at crucial junctures in the tournament, adept at controlling runs in the middle overs.

Karl Andersen (Norway) - An impact all-rounder showing promise with quickfire knocks and useful bowling spells, a potential game changer for Norway.