Scores: Zimbabwe (182/4 in 19.3 overs) beat Sri Lanka (178/7 in 20 overs) by six wickets in Colombo. (Brian Bennett 63*, Sikandar Raza 45; Dushan Hemantha 2/36).
Brian Bennett’s composure and Sikandar Raza’s explosive strokeplay powered Zimbabwe to an emphatic six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, sealing their place in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup as Group B toppers on Thursday.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
Chasing 179 in their final league clash, Zimbabwe overhauled the target in 19.3 overs to stun the hosts and complete an unbeaten group-stage campaign. Finishing above Sri Lanka, Australia and Ireland, the African side marked a significant milestone in their steady resurgence. It was also their second-highest successful chase in T20 internationals.
On a sluggish surface that demanded balance, Zimbabwe combined restraint with calculated aggression. Bennett anchored the innings with 63 not out off 48 balls, while Raza’s 45 off 26 deliveries supplied the acceleration at crucial moments.
Zimbabwe made a confident start, reaching 55 without loss in the Powerplay through Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani (34 off 26). The opening pair put on 69 in 8.3 overs before Marumani fell to Dunith Wellalage, offering the spinner a return catch.
Ryan Burl ensured momentum was not lost, striking a brisk 23 off 12 balls. His 103-metre six off Wellalage over long-on stood out, although he later fell to a slower bouncer from Dasun Shanaka.
With Bennett holding one end firm, the contest tilted decisively when Raza walked in. The Zimbabwe captain injected urgency, taking on Dilshan Madushanka with two successive sixes and a boundary in the 15th over to wrest control of the chase. Battling cramps towards the end of his innings, Raza continued to attack, striking a six and a four off Maheesh Theekshana in the 16th over to bring the asking rate down to manageable levels.
Raza was dismissed by Dushan Hemantha in the 19th over, and Tashinga Musekiwa departed two balls later, leaving eight required from the final over. Any anxiety was short-lived as Tony Munyonga pulled Theekshana for a towering six to seal the result.
At the halfway mark, Sri Lanka appeared to have posted a competitive total. Their bowlers reinforced that impression early in the chase with disciplined lines and tight fields, briefly slowing Zimbabwe’s progress. For a period, the game remained finely balanced.
The shift came when Marumani counterattacked after a quiet phase, forcing Sri Lanka to alter their lengths. That intent allowed Bennett to settle into his anchoring role, while Burl’s cameo prevented the required rate from climbing. Raza then delivered the defining intervention, blending power with awareness to keep the equation under control.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s batters struggled against Zimbabwe’s spinners in the middle overs on a slow pitch but still managed a competitive 178 for seven in their Group B encounter on Thursday.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka made a steady start as openers Kusal Perera (22) and Pathum Nissanka (62) added 54 runs in just 4.5 overs.
Perera did not look entirely comfortable but managed a couple of boundaries off pacer Blessing Muzarabani. The towering quick, however, had the final say. Perera miscued a pull shot off a Muzarabani bouncer and was caught by Graeme Cremer at short fine leg.
Muzarabani impressed throughout his spell, cleverly digging the ball into the surface to take the pace off and force the batters to generate their own power.
Sri Lanka ended the PowerPlay at a healthy 61 for 1, but scoring became increasingly difficult thereafter.
Zimbabwe’s spin quartet of Sikandar Raza, Graeme Cremer, Ryan Burl and Wellington Masakadza tightened the screws in the middle overs, conceding just 21 runs in the next four overs while giving the hosts little room to break free.
During this phase, Sri Lanka also lost the slow-moving Kusal Mendis, who made 14 off 20 balls.
In the midst of the slowdown, Nissanka, fresh from his century against Australia in the previous match, brought up his half-century in 34 balls. The right-hander read the pace of the pitch well, relying on quick singles and doubles before picking the right moments to attack.
However, he too fell to the sluggish surface, with his reverse sweep off Cremer landing in the hands of Tony Munyonga.
Pavan Rathnayake then provided late impetus with a brisk 44 off 25 balls. He struck Brad Evans for 4, 6 and 4 in the 19th over to push Sri Lanka past the 150-run mark before falling in the same over. The final two overs produced 30 runs, a flourish that added valuable momentum to the total.
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