By Cricket Desk | February 20, 2026

In a tournament already defined by unpredictability, Zimbabwe has once again sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. On Thursday, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the "Chevrons" pulled off a masterful six-wicket victory over co-hosts Sri Lanka, finishing the group stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 undefeated.

Just a week after their sensational win against Australia, this victory over Sri Lanka confirms that Zimbabwe is no longer just an "underdog" story—they are a genuine force to be reckoned with as the tournament moves into the Super Eight stage.

The Match Summary: High Drama at the Premadasa

Scorecard:

• Sri Lanka: 178/7 (20 Overs)

• Zimbabwe: 182/4 (19.3 Overs)

• Result: Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets (with 3 balls to spare).

First Innings: Nissanka Shines, Zimbabwe Spinners Restrain

Sri Lanka opted to bat first in the sweltering heat of Colombo, looking to capitalize on home advantage. Pathum Nissanka, coming off a brilliant century against Australia, continued his purple patch with a well-crafted 62 off 41 balls.

The Lankans looked set for a total well beyond 190 when they reached 54/1 in just 5 overs. Worldbaazi However, Zimbabwe’s veteran spin quartet—Sikandar Raza, Graeme Cremer, Ryan Burl, and Wellington Masakadza—tightened the screws. A late cameo from Pavan Rathnayake (44 off 25) boosted Sri Lanka to 178/7, a total that many felt was par on a sluggish surface.

Second Innings: The Bennett-Raza Masterclass

Zimbabwe’s chase was a masterclass in tactical pacing. 21-year-old Brian Bennett remained the anchor of the side, finishing 63 not out off 48 balls. Remarkably, Bennett has yet to be dismissed in this World Cup, providing a level of composure rarely seen in such a young player.

The turning point came when captain Sikandar Raza walked to the crease. With the asking rate climbing, Raza took the game by the scruff of its neck, smashing 45 off 26 balls. His brutal assault on Dushan Hemantha and Maheesh Theekshana—blasting 20 runs in a single over—swung the momentum decisively in Zimbabwe's favor.

Despite a brief stutter in the 19th over where Raza and Tashinga Musekiwa fell in quick succession, Tony Munyonga calmed the nerves with a massive six off the first ball of the final over. Bennett then sealed the historic win with a crisp boundary through extra cover.

Key Takeaways

1. Group B Giants: Zimbabwe finishes at the top of Group B, ahead of established powerhouses Australia and Sri Lanka. This is their second-highest successful run chase in T20I history.

2. The Rise of Brian Bennett: With scores of 48*, 64*, and 63* in the group stages, Bennett is arguably the "Find of the Tournament."

3. Captain Courageous: Sikandar Raza’s Player of the Match performance (45 runs and a controlled bowling spell) proves why he is the heartbeat of this Zimbabwean resurgence.

What’s Next?

Zimbabwe heads into the Super Eight with a "clean slate" and immense confidence. They are set to face the West Indies in their Super Eight opener in Mumbai this coming Monday.

As Sikandar Raza noted in the post-match presentation: "Everyone loves an underdog story, but we’re here to win hearts and respect by playing good cricket." At this rate, they might just be doing a lot more than that.

Player of the Match: Sikandar Raza (45 off 26 balls) Next Match: Zimbabwe vs West Indies | February 23, 2026