The historic SSC Ground in Colombo hosted an impressive display of T20 Cricket on February 09, 2026, as Zimbabwe achieved a convincing 8-wicket victory over Oman. In the 8th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (Group B), Zimbabwe showcased their abilities with a strong bowling performance and a steady batting effort, finishing the match with 39 balls remaining.
Blessing Muzarabani’s early strike folds Oman’s innings
The match’s tone was set early, with Zimbabwe’s fast bowler, Blessing Muzarabani, making an immediate impact. Oman struggled to establish their innings as Muzarabani generated bounce and seam from the pitch. He dismissed captain Jatinder Singh for 5 and quickly followed up by taking out Aamir Kaleem and Karan Sonavale, ending his spell with impressive figures of 3/16 in four overs.
With pressure mounting, Richard Ngarava (3/17) and Brad Evans (3/18) maintained the attack, leaving Oman reeling at 17/4 within the first four overs. While Sufyan Mehmood (25) and Vinayak Shukla (28) tried to stabilize the innings, Oman still fell short. The team was ultimately all out for 103 in 19.5 overs, a total that proved insufficient on the pitch.
Brian Bennett leads Zimbabwe to victory
Chasing a target of 104, Zimbabwe faced some challenges at the beginning. Mehmood gave Oman brief hope by dismissing Tadiwanashe Marumani (21) and Dion Myers (0) quickly, bringing the score to 30/2. However, young player Brian Bennett quickly turned the tide. He scored a solid 48 off 36 balls, hitting six boundaries and one six, anchoring the innings effectively.
Bennett was joined by experienced player Brendan Taylor, who added a reliable 31 before retiring hurt as the finish line approached. With the score at 98/2, captain Sikandar Raza came in to complete the task, hitting a quick 5* to secure victory in just 13.3 overs. Zimbabwe finished at 106/2, significantly boosting their Net Run Rate and solidifying their position as strong contenders in the T20 World Cup.
