In a spectacular display of cricketing prowess, Zimbabwe delivered a stunning six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in Colombo, securing top position in Group B of the Men’s T20 World Cup. The match saw Zimbabwe successfully chase down a target of 179 runs with three balls remaining, maintaining their unbeaten record in the tournament.
Opening batsman Brian Bennett emerged as the hero for Zimbabwe, remaining undefeated with 63 runs from 48 deliveries. This remarkable performance follows his previous unbeaten 64 runs against Australia last week. Bennett established a solid foundation with an opening partnership of 69 runs with Tadiwanashe Marumani, who contributed 34 runs. Captain Sikander Raza provided crucial acceleration with a explosive 45 runs from just 26 balls before falling in the penultimate over.
The victory becomes particularly significant as Zimbabwe, who failed to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup, now progress unbeaten to the Super 8s stage. Their campaign continues with a match against West Indies in Mumbai on Monday, having been placed in a group with co-hosts India, South Africa, and the Caribbean team.
Sri Lanka, despite being already qualified for the next round, faced considerable challenges with dropped catches and fielding errors. The absence of injured bowler Matheesha Pathirana and rested seamer Dushmantha Chameera further weakened their bowling attack. Pathum Nissanka’s respectable 62 runs from 44 balls provided the highlight for Sri Lanka, who now face England in their Super 8s opener on Sunday.
In related tournament news, West Indies maintained their perfect record with a 42-run victory over Italy in Kolkata. Shamar Joseph achieved a historic feat by becoming the first player to take four catches and four wickets in a single T20 international. Meanwhile, Afghanistan concluded their campaign with an emphatic 82-run win against Canada, featuring Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 95 runs and Mohammad Nabi’s exceptional bowling figures of 4-7.