In the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe emerged victorious by six wickets at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
During the match, Brian Bennett played an unbeaten knock of 63 runs off just 48 deliveries, and was laced with eight boundaries. Shouldering him was skipper Sikandar Raza, who was dismissed on 45 runs. Facing 26 balls, Raza also smashed two boundaries and four maximums.
Speaking about his explosive knock, Raza admitted that he did not begin fluently and was trying to calculate the required runs.
“After the first eight balls, I only had 4-5 runs, but I was seeing the ball well, and if I time it well, it can go the distance. Was trying to calculate. Needed a 20-run over,” he said.
“Ideally wanted to finish the game, but we took it. Kept on saying to Bennett that he batted through,” added Raza.
Raza then felt he had put extra pressure on his partner due to his slow start. “I told him I had let him down and to just hang in because I was starting to time it well. Credit to him, he keeps doing that every game and cannot wait to see him get better,” said the skipper.
Having qualified for the “Super 8” stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, Zimbabwe`s skipper said that he has already started thinking about the next clash.
“I am pretty excited with how we have gone about our business. We are unbeaten so far, but it is only the next game that comes into my head. Nice position to be in as a captain, but I will try to enjoy at least tonight,” said the 39-year-old cricketer.
T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8: Group 1 teams
Zimbabwe is placed in Group 1 of the Super 8 stage along with teams India, South Africa, and the West Indies. They will play their first Super 8 match against the West Indies on February 23 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The title clash of the marquee event is scheduled to be played on March 8, with the venue yet to be decided.
(With ANI Inputs)
