ZIM vs SL: Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett breaks Faf du Plessis and Babar Azam's joint T20I record for highest score without a six

Zimbabwe lost the first of the three-T20I series as Kamindu Mendis unleashed a scathing attack with unbeaten 16-ball 41 featuring four sixes but their opener Brian Bennett scripted T20I history. At Harare Sports Club on September 3, Bennett broke the record for highest T20I score without a six. Bennett scored 81 runs from 57 balls but did not hit a single six during his knock.

Previously, the record belonged to former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and discarded Pakistan T20I batter Babar Azam. In 2015, Du Plessis scored an unbeaten 61-ball 79 including eight fours against Bangladesh. South Africa won by 52 runs. Seven years later, in 2022, Babar scored an unbeaten 53-ball 79 in a successful run chase against New Zealand. He hit 11 fours during his stay at the crease.

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Bennett started the innings with two fours against Nuwan Thushara. He scored at a brisk rate as Zimbabwe were 59/2 after powerplay overs. In the 12th over, Bennett reached his fifty from 33 balls. On the last ball of the penultimate over, Bennett got bowled by Dushmatha Chameera as he attempted a ramp shot. His knock helped Zimbabwe post 175/7. Just one six was hit in the innings that came off captain Sikandar Raza’s bat.

“T20 cricket is a different game where you take more risks and play riskier shots. Those dot balls in the powerplay can put you under pressure, so I tried to rotate strike. We have to assess the conditions, it looks like a good wicket and the ball is coming on,” Bennett told the broadcasters during the innings break.

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Zimbabwe strange Sri Lanka in middle overs

In the run chase, Pathum Nissanka got Sri Lanka off to an ideal start. Nissanka hit Blessing Muzarabani for three fours in a row. After powerplay overs, Sri Lanka were 65 for no loss. Nissanka reached his fifty from 26 balls. After three overs without a boundary, Nissanka lost his wicket to Tinotendra Maposa for a 32-ball 55. Then, Richard Ngarava got the wickets of Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis. Then, Raza got into the act and got the wicket of skipper Charith Asalanka. Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 10 runs in 19 balls.

Kamindu rescues Sri Lanka

In the 15th over, Kamindu got a reprieve as his catch was dropped by Brad Evans. Wickets fell but Kamindu dealt in sixes. In the 18th over, Maposa was hit for two sixes and a four. The 26-run over turned the tide. Dushan Hemantha finished the run chase with a boundary off the first ball of the final over. Sri Lanka won the game by four wickets.