Cricket loves a good surprise. And on a warm evening at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Zimbabwe delivered one of the most jaw-dropping results of the 2026 T20 World Cup. They chased down 179 against co-hosts Sri Lanka — and they did it with style, with calm, and with 3 balls to spare.
The Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe highlights will be talked about for a long time. This wasn’t a lucky win. This was a statement. Zimbabwe finished the group stage without losing a single game — and they did it by beating a home team in front of their own fans.
Match Scorecard: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe — T20 World Cup 2026
| Team | Score | Top Performer |
|---|---|---|
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 178/7 (20.0 overs) | Pathum Nissanka — 62 off 41 balls |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 182/4 (19.3 overs) | Brian Bennett — 59* off 47 balls |
First Innings: Sri Lanka Bat First — Nissanka Shines, Rathnayake Finishes
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat. And early on, it looked like a smart call. Pathum Nissanka was in brilliant form right from the first ball.
Nissanka played a graceful knock of 62 off 41 balls, hitting eight boundaries along the way. It wasn’t just a good innings — it was a historic one. During this knock, Nissanka became Sri Lanka’s all-time highest run-scorer in T20 International cricket, going past Kusal Mendis. The home crowd had plenty to cheer about.
But then Zimbabwe hit back. Veteran leg-spinner Graeme Cremer was the wrecker-in-chief for the Chevrons, picking up 2 wickets for 27 runs. He removed both Kamindu Mendis and Nissanka in quick succession, and suddenly Sri Lanka’s middle order was wobbling.
It was young Pavan Rathnayake who bailed them out at the end. His explosive 44 off just 25 balls gave Sri Lanka the late push they needed, taking the total to 178/7. Most people thought that would be enough on a slow, tricky Colombo surface.
They were wrong.
The Chase: Raza’s Power, Bennett’s Calm — Highlights Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s chase started confidently. Openers Tadiwanashe Marumani (27) and Brian Bennett put on a 69-run opening stand, giving the team a solid platform without taking too many risks.
Then came the moment that truly shifted the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe highlights — captain Sikandar Raza walked in.
Raza was absolutely fearless. He smashed 45 runs off just 26 balls and completely took the Lankan spinners apart. In one over from Dushan Hemantha, Raza scored an incredible 20 runs, changing the mood in the stadium completely. The required run rate was being slashed. The target was coming closer. Sri Lanka’s bowlers had no answers.
Raza eventually got out with the finish line just ahead, but by then the job was almost done. And Brian Bennett made sure it got finished. Cool, calm, and collected, Bennett finished on an unbeaten 59 off 47 balls. He sealed the victory with a crisp boundary through extra cover — and Zimbabwe had done the unthinkable.
3 Key Moments That Decided the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Match
⚡ Sri Lanka’s Explosive Powerplay — 61/1 in 6 Overs
Sri Lanka came out swinging. Their 61 for 1 in the first six overs was the fastest team fifty in T20 World Cup history for Sri Lanka. Nissanka and the openers looked unstoppable early on, and it set the tone for a big total.
🎯 Cremer’s Double Strike — The Game-Changer
When Graeme Cremer dismissed both Kamindu Mendis and Pathum Nissanka in quick succession, Zimbabwe dragged themselves right back into the first innings. It stopped Sri Lanka’s momentum dead in its tracks and kept the target within chasing distance.
💥 Munyonga’s Six — The Final Over Drama
Zimbabwe needed 8 runs off the last over. The tension was at its peak. Then Tony Munyonga walked up and smashed a massive six off the very first ball. That one shot basically ended the contest right there. Three balls later, Zimbabwe had won.
What This Result Means for the Super 8s
The Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe highlights aren’t just a great cricket story — they have big consequences for the rest of the tournament too.
| Team | Group B Finish | Super 8s Status |
|---|---|---|
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 1st — Unbeaten | ✅ Qualified — Group Leaders |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 2nd | ✅ Qualified — Despite the loss |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | — | ❌ Eliminated — Heading home |
Zimbabwe go into the Super 8s as Group B leaders — unbeaten, full of confidence, and sitting alongside tournament heavyweights like India and the West Indies. Sri Lanka also made it through, which softens the blow a little. But Australia — one of the biggest names in world cricket — are heading home early.
Nobody is going to want to face Zimbabwe in the Super 8s. Not after a performance like this.
🏏 Final Word: Zimbabwe Have Truly Arrived
The highlights of Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe at the R. Premadasa Stadium will go down as one of the great moments of T20 World Cup 2026. A 179-run chase. A perfect group stage record. A home crowd silenced. This was Zimbabwe at their absolute best.
Raza led with his bat. Bennett finished with his head. Cremer struck at the right time. And together, the Chevrons sent a message to every team left in the tournament: we are not just making up the numbers anymore.
The Super 8s just got a lot more interesting.
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