Spain achieved a historic milestone with their 7-wicket victory over Greece in the ongoing Europe T20 World Cup Sub Regional Qualifier C in Guernsey, marking their 14th consecutive win in Men's T20Is. This triumph breaks the previous record of 13 consecutive wins, set by Malaysia in 2022.
Spain's last defeat in T20Is occurred around 20 months ago against Italy. Since then, they have secured 15 victories, including series wins against the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Croatia, along with three consecutive victories in the current T20 qualifier. Their winning streak was briefly interrupted by a no result in a rain-affected match against the Isle of Man last year. That series also featured a record-breaking 10-wicket win, where Spain bowled out the Manx for just 10 runs and chased down the target in just two legal deliveries.
Spain's head coach, Corey Rutgers, expressed pride in the team's achievement during an interview with Cricbuzz. He noted that while they don’t play for records, this accomplishment felt special for the group. Rutgers credited the transformative years of Spanish cricket to the dedication of the players, management, and coaching staff, expressing immense pride in everyone's contributions.
Despite their impressive run, Spain's chances of advancing to the European Regional final next year appear slim. A rain-induced abandonment in their match against Denmark earlier in the week means Spain now relies on an unlikely Cyprus victory over Denmark to progress. If Denmark wins their final group match, their superior net run rate will ensure their advancement, leaving Spain to compete for the bronze medal against either Finland or possibly Guernsey. Rutgers acknowledged the challenges, stating that cricket can be unforgiving, and the team will need to learn from this experience and return stronger in the future.
By defeating Greece, Spain moved closer to the record for the most consecutive unbeaten matches, currently held by Nigeria with a 16-match streak. Nigeria's run was also interrupted by a no result due to rain during a match against Tanzania. The record for the most consecutive victories in all T20Is is currently held by Thailand Women, who have 17 wins.