Zimbabwe shocked Sri Lanka by six wickets to cause another upset in the T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Sri Lanka became Zimbabwe's second prey after Australia. The Chevrons rode on Brian Bennett's robust 63 and Sikandar Raza's fiery 26-ball 45 to chase down the 179-run target with three balls to spare. Zimbabwe are the only second team in the ongoing tournament who have progressed to the Super Eights without losing a single match.
Zimbabwe shock Sri Lanka by 6 wickets
Zimbabwe’s chase began with great intent as openers Bennett and Tadi Marumani navigated the Powerplay effectively, guiding the team to 55 for no loss. The pair eventually established a solid 69-run foundation before Marumani was dismissed in the ninth over, handing a return catch to left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage. Ryan Burl briefly maintained this momentum with a quick-fire 23, highlighted by a towering 103-meter six off Wellalage, before falling to a clever slower bouncer from Dasun Shanaka.
The arrival of Sikandar Raza at the crease fundamentally shifted the momentum in Zimbabwe's favor. While Bennett anchored one end to reach a 41-ball half-century, the captain provided the necessary aggression, dismantling the Sri Lankan attack. Raza targeted Dilshan Madushanka for two consecutive sixes and a boundary in the 15th over, then followed up by punishing Maheesh Theekshana for ten runs in the 16th. Despite battling debilitating cramps late in his knock, Raza’s brilliance successfully brought the required run rate down to a manageable 6.5 runs per over.
Drama unfolded in the closing stages when Dushan Hemantha dismissed Raza in the penultimate over and claimed Tashinga Musekiwa just two balls later. With eight runs required off the final six deliveries, the pressure shifted back to the visitors. However, Tony Munyonga settled the nerves in the Zimbabwe dugout by launching a massive pulled six off Theekshana, effectively sealing a historic victory for the African side.
Sri Lanka's unbeaten run ends
Earlier, Sri Lanka set a competitive target of 178/7, anchored by a poised half-century from Pathum Nissanka. Opting to bat first, the hosts ignited their innings with an aggressive opening stand. Kusal Perera set a rapid tempo, striking a quick-fire 22 off 14 balls, while Nissanka showcased elegant timing to help the pair race to 54 runs within the first five overs. Although Blessing Muzarabani eventually broke the partnership by dismissing Perera, Nissanka remained undeterred, anchoring the innings with a fluent 62 off 41 deliveries.
Zimbabwe’s spin duo, Ryan Burl and Graeme Cremer, managed to pull the game back during the middle overs. Burl’s sharp leg-break accounted for Kusal Mendis, while Cremer claimed the crucial wicket of the well-set Nissanka. This tactical breakthrough triggered a temporary scoring drought between the 12th and 15th overs as the Zimbabwean bowlers used variation and bounce to stifle the Sri Lankan momentum.
The innings found its second wind through a spirited counterattack from Pavan Rathnayake. His inventive cameo of 44 from just 25 balls—featuring two sixes and three boundaries—re-injected much-needed urgency into the death overs. Despite late strikes from Brad Evans and Muzarabani, who both picked up key wickets to curb the surge, Sri Lanka finished strong. A late flourish from Dunith Wellalage, who struck three boundaries in the final over, ensured the hosts posted a formidable total.
Both the teams will now head to Super 8 stage with their heads held high.