New Delhi: Zimbabwe stunned Sri Lanka to register one of the most famous wins in their history and entered the T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight stage as the table toppers from Group B. The African nation, which defeated Australia earlier in the tournament, claimed another giant-killing win to remain undefeated in the tournament and send a big warning to its rivals in the Super 8s.

The Sikander Raza-led side clinched the landmark win after completing their second-highest successful chase in T20Is. Chasing a tough target of 179, Zimbabwe rode on Brian Bennett’s unbeaten half-century and a fiery cameo from skipper Raza to cross the line with three balls and six wickets to spare.

Clinical performance! We finish the group stages unbeaten! 🥳

Match Details 👉 https://t.co/ZtrHAXewii#SLvZIM #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/j25Ic5iHzI

— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv)

Marumani, Bennett laid the foundation with solid stand

Chasing 179 was always going to be a tricky affair on a sluggish surface at the Premadasa, but Zimbabwe paced the chase perfectly by mixing caution with aggression expertly. The underdogs were well served by a 69-run stand between Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani (34).

While Marumani was dismissed at a crucial juncture, Bennett kept on going and stitched crucial partnerships with Ryan Burl (23) and Raza. The right-handed opener, who has scored the most runs in T20I cricket since the 2024 T20 WC, fittingly scored the winning runs and remained unbeaten on 63 off 48 balls. His 69-run stand with Raza (45, 26b) took the game away from Lanka.

Raza cuts loose to put Zimbabwe on top

While Bennett bided his time, Raza, after getting his eye in, hammered pacer Dilshan Madushanka for two sixes in a row, followed by a four in the 15th over to put pressure on the co-hosts.

Battling cramps, Raza hit a six and four off spinner Maheesh Theekshana in the 16th to bring down the asking rate to 6.5.

But Raza’s hopes of taking his side home were dashed by Dushan Hemantha in the 19th over, and his heart must have skipped a beat watching Zimbabwe lose Tashinga Musekiwa two balls later.

With 8 needed off the last over, the game could have gone either way, especially with the experienced bowler, Maheesh Theekshana, taking the ball in hand.

But a massive six over midwicket by Tony Munyonga eased off the pressure in the Zimbabwe camp.

Earlier, SL, after opting to bat first, struggled against Zimbabwe spinners in the middle overs, but still managed to post a par total of 178 for seven.

Kusal Perera (22) and Pathum Nissanka (62) at the top and Pavan Rathnayake (44, 25b), in the lower order, were the chief contributors for the Islanders.

Blessing Muzarabani, Graeme Cremer and Brad Evans picked up two wickets each for Zimbabwe.