Zimbabwe achieved a convincing victory over Sri Lanka by six wickets in the 38th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Chasing a target of 179 runs, Zimbabwe scored 182/4 in 19.3 overs, finishing the match with three balls to spare.
Sri Lanka set a total of 178/7 in their 20 overs, but Zimbabwe’s top and middle order displayed a mix of patience and aggression, marking one of their best chases in the tournament.
Sri Lanka posts 178/7 with solid contributions
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Sri Lanka made a strong start. Pathum Nissanka led with a solid 62 runs off 41 balls, hitting eight boundaries and keeping a strike rate over 150. His early effort helped Sri Lanka reach 61 runs in the first six overs.
Kusal Perera added to the momentum with 22 runs from 14 balls, including four boundaries, before being bowled by Blessing Muzarabani. The opening partnership of 54 gave Sri Lanka a strong base, but Zimbabwe’s bowlers began to apply pressure.
Kusal Mendis struggled, scoring only 14 runs from 20 balls before getting stumped off Ryan Burl. During the middle overs, Zimbabwe’s disciplined spin bowling took control, with Graeme Cremer completing an effective spell. Cremer ended with figures of 2 for 27 in four overs, dismissing both Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis at key moments.
Pavan Rathnayake provided late momentum for Sri Lanka, scoring 44 runs off 25 balls, with three fours and two sixes. However, the team lost wickets quickly in the final overs, going from 164/6 to 164/7 in two balls.
Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans each took two wickets, preventing Sri Lanka from crossing the 180 mark. Although Dunith Wellalage remained not out with 15 off eight balls, Sri Lanka’s total of 178/7 was competitive but not overly challenging on a batting-friendly pitch.
Zimbabwe’s focused chase of 179
Zimbabwe started their chase well, reaching 55 runs in the powerplay. Tadiwanashe Marumani made a lively contribution of 34 runs off 26 balls, hitting five fours and a six, before being dismissed by Dunith Wellalage at 69/1.
Brian Bennett played a crucial role, remaining not out on 63 from 48 balls and hitting eight boundaries. His stability helped Zimbabwe manage the chase, even as wickets fell at the other end.
Ryan Burl added momentum with a quick 23 runs from just 12 balls, lifting Zimbabwe to 98/2 before he was dismissed by Dasun Shanaka. The standout partnership was between Bennett and captain Sikandar Raza.
Raza played a captain’s role with 45 runs from 26 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes, which shifted the momentum in Zimbabwe’s favor. The pair added 69 runs for the third wicket, bringing Zimbabwe closer to victory.
Despite Raza getting out in the 19th over, Zimbabwe only needed a few more runs. Tony Munyonga contributed an unbeaten eight runs off three balls, including a six, helping Zimbabwe surpass the target in 19.3 overs.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to limit Zimbabwe’s scoring throughout the chase. Dushan Hemantha was the most successful with figures of 2 for 36 in four overs, while Wellalage and Shanaka took one wicket each.
Maheesh Theekshana had a tough outing, giving away 47 runs in 3.3 overs at an economy rate of 13.40. Pramod Madushan and Dilshan Madushanka also found it challenging to control the runs, allowing Zimbabwe to dictate the pace of the match.
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