Raza the Boss: Zimbabwe Crush Sri Lanka by 6 Wickets in Colombo Thriller
Zimbabwe defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in Match 38 of Group B at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 19, 2026. This emphatic win kept Zimbabwe unbeaten in the group stage (topping Group B) and propelled them into the Super 8s with momentum, while also marking a strong performance against the co-hosts.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. They posted a competitive 178/7 in 20 overs, built around solid contributions from their top order.
Sri Lanka Innings Highlights
- Pathum Nissanka top-scored with 62 off 41 balls (including boundaries in the powerplay).
- Pavan Rathnayake provided a late boost with 44 off 25 balls.
- Zimbabwe’s bowlers applied pressure throughout:
- Graeme Cremer: 2/27 (4 overs).
- Blessing Muzarabani: 2/38.
- Brad Evans: 2/35.
- Ryan Burl: 1/16.
- Zimbabwe’s disciplined attack restricted Sri Lanka despite some big overs.
Zimbabwe Innings
- Chasing 179, Zimbabwe reached 182/4 in 19.3 overs with composure and flair.
- Key partnerships powered the chase:
- Brian Bennett anchored with an unbeaten 63 off 48 balls* (7 fours), showing maturity under pressure.
- Captain Sikandar Raza delivered a explosive cameo of 45 off 26 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes, SR 173.07), including towering maximums (one reportedly 101m) and aggressive strokeplay against spinners.
- Raza fell late (caught by Dasun Shanaka off Dushan Hemantha) with 12 needed off 10, but Bennett sealed it calmly.
- Sri Lanka’s bowlers: Dushan Hemantha (2/36), Dunith Wellalage (1/27), Dasun Shanaka (1/26) picked wickets but couldn’t stem the flow.
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Sikandar Raza was named Player of the Match for his match-turning all-round contribution — his quick-fire 45 off 26 balls provided the acceleration needed in the chase, complementing his earlier economical bowling spell. His leadership and big-hitting were pivotal in Zimbabwe’s historic unbeaten group run and group-topping finish.
This victory highlighted Zimbabwe’s rise as a formidable unit in the tournament, blending experienced campaigners like Raza with emerging talents. Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 178/7 (20 overs) lost to Zimbabwe 182/4 (19.3 overs) by 6 wickets.
