Sikandar Raza and Brian Bennett of Zimbabwe fist bump throughout the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 match in opposition to Sri Lanka at R. Premadasa Stadium on February 19, 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. — ICC
Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to maneuver to the highest of the Group B factors desk, powered by standout performances from Brian Bennett and captain Sikandar Raza on the R. Premadasa Worldwide Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a difficult goal of 179, Zimbabwe reached the overall with 4 wickets down within the ultimate over after a commanding begin.
Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani piled on the runs from the outset, stitching collectively a brisk 69-run partnership for the primary wicket.
Sri Lanka discovered the breakthrough within the ninth over when Dunith Wellalage dismissed Marumani, who scored 34 off 26 deliveries, together with 5 fours and a six.
Ryan Burl then walked in and performed a fast cameo to ease the strain, smashing 23 off 12 balls with two fours and a six earlier than being eliminated by skipper Dasun Shanaka.
Captain Sikandar Raza joined Bennett on the crease and stored the scoreboard ticking with aggressive stroke play, together with back-to-back sixes, decreasing the equation to 45 runs wanted from the ultimate 5 overs.
The duo added a fiery 50-run stand to place Zimbabwe in a dominant place, with Bennett citing his half-century in fashion.
Nevertheless, Dushan Hemantha broke the essential partnership within the nineteenth over, dismissing Raza after a blistering 45 off 26 balls, studded with two fours and 4 sixes, leaving Zimbabwe at 167-3 in 18.2 overs.
Hemantha struck once more in the identical over to take away Tashinga Musekiwa for one, giving Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope.
Needing eight runs within the ultimate over, Tony Munyonga sealed the competition with a towering six earlier than handing the strike again to Bennett, who completed unbeaten on 63 off 48 deliveries, together with eight fours.
Munyonga remained unbeaten on eight off three balls as Zimbabwe accomplished a memorable six-wicket victory.
Batting first, Sri Lanka obtained off to a fiery begin as openers Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka piled on runs with aggressive stroke play, placing early strain on Zimbabwe’s bowling assault and forging a 54-run partnership for the opening wicket.
Nevertheless, Perera, who regarded set, was dismissed by Blessing Muzarabani after scoring 22 off 14 deliveries, together with 4 boundaries, bringing an finish to the opening stand within the fifth over.
Nissanka remained in chic contact, accumulating runs steadily to register his nineteenth T20I half-century and propel the staff whole previous the 100-run mark within the twelfth over.
Kusal Mendis, batting alongside Nissanka, struggled to rotate the strike and was finally stumped by Ryan Burl after scoring 14 off 20 deliveries, leaving Sri Lanka at 100-2 in 12.2 overs.
Zimbabwe clawed again into the competition with the prized wicket of Nissanka, who performed an important knock of 62 off 41 deliveries, laced with eight fours, earlier than being dismissed by Graeme Cremer.
Cremer struck once more in his subsequent over, eradicating Kamindu Mendis for seven off 5 balls, together with one 4, as Sri Lanka slipped to 123-4 in 15.2 overs.
The hosts continued to lose wickets as Muzarabani picked up his second, dismissing skipper Dasun Shanaka for six off seven deliveries.
Pavan Rathnayake offered late impetus with a brisk 44 off 25 deliveries, that includes three fours and two sixes, however his promising innings was minimize quick by Brad Evans.
Evans struck once more in the identical over to take away Dushan Hemantha for a first-ball duck, decreasing Sri Lanka to 164-7 in 19 overs.
The innings concluded with Dunith Wellalage unbeaten on 15 off eight deliveries, hitting three fours, whereas Maheesh Theekshana didn’t face a ball.
For the Chevrons, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, and Graeme Cremer claimed two wickets apiece, whereas Ryan Burl chipped in with one.
