Finland — Bulgaria, MT20WC Sub Regional Europe QLF C

Finland and Bulgaria met in the MT20WC European subregional qualifiers for Group C on Friday, with the hosts running away with a 232-140 victory. The result was never really in doubt for long, though the margin of difference left plenty to be said about the gulf between the two sides. By then Finland had already established themselves as the team to beat in this group. The scoreline tells you everything about how this one played out. Finland scored 92 more points than their opponents, which is not the kind of lead you claw back from even if you switch off at the back. Bulgaria simply could not find any rhythm, and their attack looked disjointed from the opening tip-off. Finland sit second in the table now with five points from three games, though their recent form has been anything but convincing. They lost to Spain on Thursday, then Germany on Monday, and before that two heavy defeats to Portugal. This win at last gives them something to build on, though the scoreline suggests they still have work to do. Bulgaria remain in fourth place with just two points from four matches and three losses. Their record against Romania has been particularly brutal — four games in May where they lost every single one, including a 58-198 hammering. They have nothing to lose now, but also no momentum going forward. The result means Finland close the gap on the group leaders while Bulgaria drift further adrift. This was never going to be a contest, and in the end it was even more one-sided than anyone expected. The line has barely moved in Group C, but today it moved enough to matter.