Moises Henriques’ determination to swap Australia for Portugal has already produced a landmark second, with the 39-year-old smashing his maiden T20I century for the nation of his delivery of their push in the direction of the 2028 T20 World Cup.
Henriques hammered 111 off simply 51 balls towards Czechia within the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Finland, powering Portugal to 211/6 earlier than rain introduced an early finish to the chase. Czechia have been struggling at 24/5 after 8.5 overs when the climate intervened, with Portugal ultimately profitable by 91 runs underneath the DLS methodology.
The century got here solely days into Henriques’ second worldwide profession. Having represented Australia 44 occasions throughout codecs between 2009 and 2021, the veteran all-rounder lately switched worldwide allegiance to Portugal and was instantly handed the captaincy for his or her World Cup qualification marketing campaign. Born in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira, Henriques moved to Australia as a baby and went via all the Australian pathway. He captained Australia on the 2006 Underneath-19 World Cup earlier than ultimately taking part in 4 Assessments, 16 ODIs and 24 T20Is for the senior nationwide facet. His ultimate Australia look got here in 2021.
His Australian home profession lasted greater than twenty years earlier than he known as time on his New South Wales and Sydney Sixers commitments in July. That retirement opened a brand new chapter, with Henriques turning his consideration in the direction of serving to Portugal attain a senior males’s World Cup for the primary time.
Henriques making rapid influence for Portugal
The change of nation has introduced an virtually rapid return. Towards Czechia, Henriques arrived on the crease after Portugal misplaced Dhavalkumar Norotam to the primary ball of the innings and proceeded to dominate the assault. His 111 contained 12 fours and 7 sixes and got here at a strike charge of 217.64. Henriques added 107 for the second wicket with Christopher De Freitas earlier than persevering with the assault till he was dismissed with Portugal already on 162/3 within the 14th over.
It was his first T20I hundred and took his event tally to 178 runs from three innings, making him the main run-scorer on the occasion after Portugal accomplished 4 consecutive victories. The transfer to Portugal was not merely a possibility to increase his taking part in profession. Henriques has spoken about drawing inspiration from Italy, who reached the 2026 T20 World Cup with one other former Australia worldwide, Joe Burns, taking part in a central function.
“Clearly, the perfect, the nirvana, can be to duplicate what Italy have completed,” Henriques instructed the BBC’s Stumped podcast earlier than the qualifier.
Henriques additionally admitted he had been impressed by the usual he encountered after becoming a member of the Portuguese setup, saying he had been “quietly and pleasantly stunned” by the standard out there to the facet. Portugal’s unbeaten group marketing campaign has now earned them a showdown with Spain on Friday, August 21, with the winner advancing to the European Regional Closing and persevering with alongside the qualification pathway for the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
For Henriques, that journey carries an uncommon symmetry: after spending just about his total cricketing life representing Australia, he’s now making an attempt to steer Portugal in the direction of a World Cup that can ultimately be staged within the nation he as soon as represented.
