T20 World Cup surprise package Zimbabwe finished the group stage undefeated and carried some winning energy into the Super Eights after defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets in Colombo on Thursday.
Chasing 179, they scored 182/4 with three balls to spare defeating the co-hosts at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo. Last week, Zimbabwe, ranked 11th in the world, defeated former champions Australia.
They also notched up a win over Oman and split points with Ireland after Tuesday’s clash was washed out.
Chasing a testing equation of 65 from 36 balls, Zimbabwe turned to captain Sikandar Raza, who transformed the contest in a single over — smashing 20 runs off leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha, punctuated by two towering sixes and a boundary, to decisively shift the momentum.
Even though Raza was dismissed for 45 in the 19th over, Zimbabwe easily reached their target with to the 69 off 40 deliveries that he and Brian Bennett added for the third wicket. Bennett, who opened the innings, batted his way to 63 not out.
Before Bennett scored the winning boundary, Tony Munyonga calmed Zimbabwe’s worries by hitting Maheesh Theekshana’s opening delivery for six with eight needed off the last over.
In T20 internationals, it was Zimbabwe’s second-highest successful run chase.
Pathum Nissanka kept Sri Lanka’s innings together after choosing to bat first. Nissanka scored a strong 62 from 47 balls after becoming the tournament’s first centurion against Australia on Monday. His eighth T20 World Cup fifty tied Mahela Jayawardene’s record for the most by a Sri Lankan.
Sri Lanka will play England in Kandy on Sunday to begin their Super Eights campaign, while Zimbabwe will play the West Indies in Mumbai on Monday.
