China defeated Maldives by 6 wickets in the first T20 match of the 2026 series, held at the National Cricket Stadium in Beijing. The match saw China's bowlers dominate early, with pace bowler Liang Wenbo taking 4 wickets for 28 runs in 10 overs. Maldives struggled to score consistently, managing only 128 runs in their 20 overs.
China's batting lineup responded with precision, with opener Zhang Yida scoring 52 runs off 48 balls, supported by middle-order batsman Chen Wei, who contributed 38 runs. The team's aggressive approach in the powerplay overs helped them chase down the target with 5 balls to spare.
This victory marks China's first win in the series and continues their strong performance in T20 cricket. The match was part of a bilateral series between the two nations, with the second game scheduled for next week in Maldives. The result highlights China's growing dominance in regional T20 competitions, following their recent success in the Asian T20 Cup.
