Zimbabwe secured an unbeaten record in Group B of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 by defeating Sri Lanka with a six-wicket victory at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The chase of 179 runs saw a strong start from Zimbabwe, with Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani’s opening partnership setting a solid foundation. Despite some late strikes from Sri Lanka, Bennett’s unbeaten 59 off 47 balls led Zimbabwe to victory in the final over.
Ryan Burl’s quick 23 and skipper Sikandar Raza’s explosive 45 off 26 balls were pivotal in Zimbabwe’s successful chase. Raza’s four sixes and partnership with Bennett helped Zimbabwe take control of the match, collecting 46 runs between the 15th and 17th overs. Sri Lanka had earlier posted 178/7, with Pathum Nissanka contributing 62 runs, but Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling ensured a manageable target.
Key stats from the match include Sri Lanka’s bowlers having the fewest powerplay wickets in the T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe’s record-breaking opening partnership, and Brian Bennett’s impressive T20I half-century record. Zimbabwe’s successful chase of 179 runs marked their second-largest in T20Is, highlighting their dominance in Group B.
