Brian Bennett and Sikandar Raza Shine As Zimbabwe Beat Sri Lanka by Six Wickets

February 20, 2026: Brian Bennett scored a calm fifty, and Sikandar Raza showed great power as Zimbabwe beat Sri Lanka by six wickets on Thursday. This win helped Zimbabwe reach the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup with a perfect record.

Zimbabwe was chasing 179 runs on a slow pitch. They needed both careful batting and strong hitting. Bennett scored 63 not out from 48 balls, and Raza scored 45 from 26 balls. Zimbabwe reached the target in 19.3 overs.

Both teams had already qualified for the Super Eights from Group B. Zimbabwe can feel proud of their group stage, as they had also beaten Australia in an earlier match.

Zimbabwe Began Strong

Zimbabwe started their innings well, scoring 55 runs without losing any wicket in the Power Play. Openers Brian Bennett and Tadi Marumani (34 runs from 26 balls) put on 69 runs for the first wicket in 8.3 overs. Marumani was then dismissed by Dunith Wellalage, who caught his own bowling.

Zimbabwe secured a 6-wicket victory, A tough result tonight 🇱🇰, yet the journey continues — eyes set firmly on the super 8 clash. 💪🏏#SLvZIM #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/exxmaZ4Oc9

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 19, 2026

Middle Overs Momentum

Ryan Burl kept Zimbabwe going with 12 quick runs from 23 balls, including a huge six over long-on that traveled 103 meters off Wellalage. Burl was out to a slower bouncer from Dasun Shanaka, but the arrival of Sikandar Raza changed the game.

Bennett reached his fifty in 41 balls, but Zimbabwe needed more big hits. Raza hit Dilshan Madushanka for two sixes and a four in the 15th over. Later, even with cramps, Raza hit a six and a four off Maheesh Theekshana in the 16th over, making the target easier.

Raza was out in the 19th over, and Zimbabwe lost Tashinga Musekiwa soon after, needing 8 runs in the last over. Tony Munyonga hit a huge six off Theekshana to finish the game and give Zimbabwe a six-wicket win.

Sri Lanka’s Struggle

Sri Lanka batted first and scored 178 for 7 on a slow pitch. Openers Kusal Perera (22) and Pathum Nissanka (62) started well with 54 runs in 4.5 overs. Perera hit a couple of boundaries but was caught by Graeme Cremer off pacer Blessing Muzarabani.

After the Power Play, Sri Lanka scored slowly. Zimbabwe’s spinners – Raza, Cremer, Burl, and Wellington Masakadza – made it hard to score. Kusal Mendis (14 from 20 balls) was also out.

Nissanka, who had scored an unbeaten 100 against Australia earlier, reached his fifty in 34 balls. He focused on singles and doubles but eventually got out to Cremer’s slow ball. Pavan Rathnayake (44 from 25 balls) gave some late energy, hitting 4, 6, 4 in the 19th over. Sri Lanka managed 30 runs in the last two overs.