Colombo, February 19, 2026 – In a tournament already defined by high-stakes drama, Zimbabwe has delivered the definitive statement of the group stages. By defeating co-hosts Sri Lanka by 6 wickets at the R. Worldbaazi Premadasa Stadium on Thursday, the "Chevrons" haven't just pulled off an upset; they’ve completed a flawless, unbeaten run to the Super Eight stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Coming off a massive win against Australia earlier in the tournament, Zimbabwe entered the Colombo cauldron with nothing to lose and everything to prove. What followed was a masterclass in tactical T20 cricket.

The Foundation: A Spin Stranglehold

After Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat, they looked set for a massive total. Pathum Nissanka (62 off 41) and Kusal Perera (22) raced to 54 in the first five overs. However, once the Powerplay ended, Zimbabwe’s spin quartet—Sikandar Raza, Graeme Cremer, Ryan Burl, and Wellington Masakadza—turned the screws.

The middle overs were a graveyard for boundaries. Sri Lanka managed only 21 runs in a crucial four-over stretch, losing Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis in the process. Despite a late-innings surge from Pavan Rathnayake (44 off 25), Sri Lanka’s 178/7 felt competitive but perhaps 15 runs short of where they once hoped to be.

The Chase: Bennett’s Calm and Raza’s Storm

Zimbabwe’s reply was built on the steady shoulders of 22-year-old Brian Bennett. Bennett anchored the chase with a mature 63* off 48 balls, allowing the power-hitters to rotate around him. He and Tadiwanashe Marumani (34) put on 69 for the first wicket, silencing the home crowd early.

The turning point, however, arrived in the 15th over. With the required rate climbing, Captain Sikandar Raza decided to end the debate. He dismantled the Sri Lankan attack, slamming two sixes and a boundary off Dilshan Madushanka to plunder 20 runs from the over. Even while battling cramps, Raza’s 45 off 26 balls effectively broke the back of the chase.

A Grandstand Finish

When Raza fell in the 19th over, a flicker of hope returned to the Colombo stands. But it was extinguished in a single moment of brilliance from Tony Munyonga, who launched Maheesh Theekshana for a towering six over mid-wicket on the first ball of the final over. Bennett then sealed the deal with a clinical boundary, sparking wild celebrations in the Zimbabwean dugout.

What This Means for the Super Eights

Zimbabwe finishes the group stage at the top of Group B, having taken down two former champions (Australia and Sri Lanka).

The Match in Numbers:

• Sri Lanka: 178/7 (Pathum Nissanka 62, Pavan Rathnayake 44; Graeme Cremer 2/27)

• Zimbabwe: 182/4 in 19.3 overs (Brian Bennett 63*, Sikandar Raza 45; Dushan Hemantha 2/36)

• Result: Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets.

• Player of the Match: Sikandar Raza

Zimbabwe now moves into a formidable Super Eight group featuring India, the West Indies, and South Africa. If their group stage form is anything to go by, no one will be looking forward to facing the Chevrons in the next round.

The world of cricket has been warned: Zimbabwe isn't just a "surprise package" anymore—they are genuine contenders.