Zimbabwe stun Sri Lanka to top group

Zimbabwe, who failed to make the cut for the 2024 T20 World Cup, continue to spring surprises. After beating Australia earlier in the tournament, they defeated tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka by six wickets in Colombo to enter the Super Eight unbeaten and at Group B toppers.

In their final group game of the 2026 edition on Thursday, Zimbabwe restricted the in-form Sri Lankans to 178/7 and then overcame a mid-innings lull to gallop to 182/4 in 19.3 overs.

Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani gave the team the perfect launchpad, putting on an opening partnership of 69 in 8.3 overs. After losing Marumani and Ryan Burl in quick succession, they struggled to tick on for a while.

But captain Sikandar Raza flipped the switch in the 15th over, slamming two sixes and four in succession to plunder 20 runs off it. His blitz of 45 runs from 26 balls took Zimbabwe to the brink of victory. However, it was Bennett, who has been unbeaten in the tournament so far, carried the team over the finish line with a level-headed innings of 63 not out, off 48 balls.

Electing to bat first, they got off to a flying start, scoring 61/1 in powerplay. The co-hosts raced to 50 in 4.1 overs, making it their fastest team 50 in T20 World Cup history.

Pathum Nissanka, who led Sri Lanka to victory against Australia in the previous match, has once again given the side the early momentum with a brisk half-century. During the innings of 62 (41b, eight fours), he also overtook Kusal Mendis as Sri Lanka's highest scorer in T20Is.

Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer (2/27) led the Zimbabwe fightback, dimissing Kamindu Mendis and Nissanka. The co-hosts slipped from 100/2 to 123/4. In the 19th over, Brad Evans claimed two wickets off two balls to check Sri Lankan scoring rate at the death. Blessing Muzarabani, who had drawn first blood for Zimbabwe, finished with 2/38.

Pavan Rathnayake gave the team a much-needed boost towards the end, with 44 off 25, with the help of three fours and two sixes.