T20 World Cup 2026: After Australia, now Zimbabwe defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets, Brian Bennett scored a half-century.

Colombo. On the basis of Brian Bennett’s half-century and captain Sikandar Raza’s 45-run innings, Zimbabwe entered the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup as the top team of the group, remaining unbeaten by defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets on Thursday. In response to the target of 179 runs to win on a difficult pitch, Zimbabwe scored 182 runs for four wickets in 19.3 overs. Bennett remained unbeaten on 63 runs in 48 balls and Raza remained unbeaten on 45 runs in 26 balls.

Both the teams have reached Super Eight from Group B and Zimbabwe’s performance which defeated Australia in the league stage has surprised everyone. Zimbabwe had scored 55 runs without any loss in the powerplay. Openers Bennett and Taddi Marumani (34 runs in 26 balls) gave a great start to the team. Both took 8 for the first wicket. Scored 69 runs in 3 overs.

Marumani was sent to the pavilion by Dunith Velalage with a return catch. Ryan Burl scored 23 runs in 12 balls but lost his wicket on the ball of Dasun Shanaka. After this Raza and Bennett took charge. Raza hit Dilshan Madushanka for two consecutive sixes in the 15th over. In the next over, spinner Mahish Teekshana was hit for a six and a four.

Raza was dismissed by Dushan Hemanta in the 19th over and Tashinga Musekiwa also returned to the pavilion after two balls. Zimbabwe needed eight runs in the last over and Tony Munyonga created joy in the Zimbabwean camp by hitting a six off Teekshana. Earlier, Sri Lankan batsmen faced problems in the middle overs on a slow pitch and could only score 178 runs for seven wickets. Batting first, Sri Lanka had a good start.

Openers Kusal Perera (22) and Pathum Nissanka (62) scored 4. Scored 54 runs in 5 overs. Left-handed batsman Perera did not look comfortable but he hit two fours off fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani. However, he was caught by Graeme Cremer at short fine leg while attempting a pool shot on Muzarabani’s bouncer. Sri Lankan batsmen had scored 61 runs for one wicket in the powerplay but after that the run rate slowed down.

Zimbabwe’s spinners Sikandar Raza, Kramer, Ryan Burl and Wellington Masakaza did not give the host batsmen a chance to play freely. Only 21 runs were scored in the next four overs. Meanwhile, the wicket of Kusal Mendis also fell who could score only 14 runs in 20 balls. Nissanka, who had scored a century against Australia in the last match, completed his half-century in 34 balls.

He was caught by Tony Muninoga while attempting a reverse sweep off Kramer’s ball. Pawan Ratnayake scored 44 runs in 25 balls and Brad Evans hit two fours and a six in the 19th over to take Sri Lanka past 150 runs. 30 runs were scored in the last two overs.