ASHLEY DUBE
Zimbabwe, who have turned out to be the biggest surprise package of the tournament made history by finishing unbeaten in the group stage of the T20 World Cup for the first time, capping a flawless run by topping Group B with a stunning victory over Sri Lanka. The Chevrons secured a thrilling chase of 178 in a T20I classic at the R. Premadasa Stadium, registering their third win of the tournament.
 |
| Brian Bennett in action against Sri Lanka. [Image: Zimbabwe Cricket] |
The victory was orchestrated by a pragmatic batting approach led by Brian Bennett, who remained unbeaten on 64, alongside explosive cameos from Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, and Tadiwanashe Marumani—proving too much for the hosts on a sluggish track.
Sri Lanka’s innings, which began with promise, was reined in by Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera started aggressively, taking Sri Lanka past 50 in the fifth over. While Zimbabwe experimented with spin early on, Wellington Masakadza and Sikandar Raza struggled to contain the onslaught.
However, the game pivoted when Blessing Muzarabani dismissed Kusal Perera with a well-executed slower ball. Kusal Mendis played a surprisingly subdued innings, scoring just 14 off 20 balls, during which Nissanka became Sri Lanka's leading run-scorer in T20Is.
Mendis’s innings of little intent concluded when he was stumped off Ryan Burl's leg-break, leaving Sri Lanka at 100 for 2 in the 13th over.
Despite Pavan Rathnayake’s late surge (44 off 25), which included Sri Lanka’s only sixes of the innings, Zimbabwe's bowlers, particularly Graeme Cremer (2 for 27), kept the scoring in check. Dunith Wellalage managed a cameo of 14 off the final over, adding some late momentum, but Sri Lanka’s total of 178, while respectable, was to prove insufficient.
Zimbabwe's chase began with Marumani taking aggressive risks, dispatching Maheesh Theekshana for boundaries and a sixth. Bennett, meanwhile, anchored the innings, gradually building to a 64 not out, finding his rhythm as the innings progressed.
Sikandar Raza, after a slow start, unleashed a ferocious assault on off-spinner Hemantha, hitting two consecutive sixes and a boundary, which significantly shifted the momentum.
"We have trained for every situation. Then we have the right personnel to send in at the right time," said Raza, who was named player of the match.
"We have got all those roles clear and that is why you see the confidence in the changing room."
This destructive spell from Raza, including another six off Theekshana, effectively broke Sri Lanka's bowling resolve.
With 19 needed off the last three overs, the match hung in the balance.
Though Wellalage delivered a nervy penultimate over to keep Sri Lanka in contention, Tony Munyonga – who has stolen the spotlight throughout the tournament with his fielding brilliance – rose to the moment, launching a decisive six off Theekshana with 10 required from the final over.
The blow settled Zimbabwe’s nerves, before Bennett calmly struck the winning runs to seal the Chevrons’ second-highest successful chase.
0 Comments