COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Zimbabwe produced a heroic batting performance to chase down a target of 179 against Sri Lanka, defeating the hosts by six wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday to top the Group B.
Already stormed into Super Eight of the tournament, chasing a stiff target of 179 on a good batting surface, Zimbabwe got off to a flying start.
The young pair of Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani approached the chase with fearlessness, taking the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Marumani was the aggressor early on, smashing 34 off just 26 balls, including five boundaries and a six. His 69-run opening stand with Bennett laid the perfect foundation for the run-chase.
The breakthrough for Sri Lanka came when Marumani was caught and bowled by the left-arm spin of Dunith Wellalage in the 9th over.
Burl’s Blitz and Raza’s Class
Skipper Sikandar Raza walked in with the score at 69 for 1 and immediately took control. He found an able ally in Ryan Burl, who played a breathtaking cameo of 23 off just 12 balls.
The pair added 29 runs in just over three overs, with Burl smashing a six and two fours before being caught behind off Dasun Shanaka.
At 98 for 2, the game was evenly poised, but Raza was just getting started.
The Zimbabwean captain launched a brutal assault on the Sri Lankan spinners, racing to 45 off just 26 deliveries.
His innings was a masterclass in chasing, featuring two boundaries and four towering sixes that brought the equation down to single digits.
Late Wickets Provide a Flicker, But Bennett Seals the Deal
Just when Zimbabwe seemed to be cruising, Raza was dismissed in the 19th over, caught by Shanaka off the bowling of Dushan Hemantha for a brilliant 45.
The very next ball, Tashinga Musekiwa was also caught by Shanaka for a golden duck, leaving Zimbabwe at 169 for 4 and Sri Lanka with a glimmer of hope.
However, the night belonged to the calm head of Brian Bennett. The opener had watched the carnage from the other end and held his nerve superbly.
He remained unbeaten on a magnificent 63 off 48 balls, anchoring the innings and ensuring there were no further hiccups.
He found a reliable partner in Tony Munyonga (8* off 3), who smashed a six to seal the victory with three balls left.
Sri Lankan Bowlers Struggle to Defend Total
Earlier in the evening, Sri Lanka had posted a competitive 178 for 7, powered by Pathum Nissanka’s fluent 62 and a late cameo of 44 from Pavan Rathnayake.
However, their bowlers failed to defend the total on a pitch that remained good for batting. Maheesh Theekshana had a rare off day, going for 47 runs in his 3.3 overs without taking a wicket.
Dushan Hemantha was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 36, while Shanaka and Wellalage took one each, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Zimbabwean charge.
The result means Zimbabwe entered the Super Eight Stage with an unbeaten record, topping Group B.
