ASHLEY DUBE
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – In a clinical display of power and precision, Zimbabwe’s pace attack dismantled Oman to secure an emphatic eight-wicket victory in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group B encounter. The match, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, was defined by a record-breaking performance from the Chevrons' seamers, who left the Omani top order in tatters.
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Zimbabwe’s spearhead Blessing Muzarabani set the tone with his very first delivery, castling Oman’s captain, Jatinder Singh. The pressure remained relentless as Richard Ngarava removed Hammad Mirza in the second over, leaving Oman reeling at 8-2. The collapse deepened as the seventh over concluded with the scoreboard reading a dismal 27-5.
While Vinayak Shukla (28) and Sufyen Mehmood managed a 47-run stand to provide some semblance of resistance, Ngarava’s return to the attack effectively ended the defiance. He dismissed both Shukla and Jiten Ramandandi in quick succession, effectively ending Oman's hopes of a competitive total.
The highlight of the innings, however, was a "catch for the ages" by Brian Bennett.
Sprinting 20 meters along the boundary, Bennett launched into a full-length dive to pluck a Brad Evans delivery out of the air. It was the crowning moment of an innings where Zimbabwe’s pacers claimed nine wickets—the highest tally for seamers in the team’s T20 history and the lowest total (103) ever conceded by Zimbabwe in a T20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe’s response began at a blistering pace. Tadiwanashe Marumani ignited the chase, racing to 21 off just 11 balls before falling to Sufyen Mehmood. Despite a brief, patchy period where Oman’s bowlers found some rhythm, Brian Bennett (48*) and the experienced Brendan Taylor (31) restored order. The pair navigated the middle overs with composure, ensuring there was no scoreboard pressure.
Though Taylor was forced to retire hurt toward the end of the chase, captain Sikandar Raza stepped in to finish the job, driving the winning runs to the boundary.
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