sri lanka vs zimbabwe: Bennett steers Zimbabwe to top of Group B
On Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 (ET), Zimbabwe completed an unbeaten Group B campaign at the T20 World Cup with a six-wicket victory over co-hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo. The win propelled Zimbabwe into the Super 8s as Group B winners, while the West Indies sealed a perfect group stage elsewhere with another comfortable victory.
Zimbabwe hold nerve to complete perfect group run
Sri Lanka posted 178 for 7 in their 20 overs, powered by Pathum Nissanka's brisk 62 off 44 balls. The hosts looked well set after a lively start but lost momentum through the middle overs, finishing short of a truly imposing total. Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer and Brad Evans made inroads late on to keep Sri Lanka under control.
Chasing 179, Zimbabwe made a confident start. Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani put on 69 inside the powerplay, giving the visitors the platform they needed. Marumani fell for 34 and Ryan Burl followed with 23, but Bennett remained unbeaten and calm at the other end.
Captain Sikandar Raza provided the late impetus with 45 off 26 balls, accelerating the chase in the 15th over and keeping Zimbabwe firmly on course. When Tashinga Musekiwa and Raza departed in quick succession, the finish was still in doubt, but Tony Munyonga’s decisive six in the penultimate over swung momentum back to Zimbabwe. Bennett then drove the winning runs through the covers, finishing 63 not out from 48 balls as Zimbabwe reached 182 for 4 with three balls to spare.
The victory marks Zimbabwe’s best T20 World Cup return in recent editions and caps an impressive turnaround after missing the previous tournament. Undefeated in Group B, they now head into Super 8s action alongside India, South Africa and the West Indies, with their first Super 8s match scheduled for Monday in Mumbai.
Sri Lanka miss chances amid injuries and fielding lapses
Hosts Sri Lanka made a bright start but were hampered by a few critical lapses in the field. Missed chances and misfields allowed Zimbabwe to maintain scoring momentum through the chase. Sri Lanka were without key pace option Matheesha Pathirana due to injury, and Dushmantha Chameera was rested, leaving the seam attack a little light at the death.
Pathum Nissanka again showed form, adding to his recent run of big scores, but the middle overs proved costly. Sri Lanka’s inability to convert early momentum into a larger total ultimately proved decisive; defending sub-180 totals in pressure Super 8s conditions will demand sharper death bowling and cleaner fielding.
West Indies complete spotless group campaign
Elsewhere on Thursday, the West Indies extended their unbeaten run in the group stage by defeating Italy by 42 runs. Shamar Joseph produced a standout all-round performance, becoming the first player in T20 internationals to take four catches and four wickets in the same match. Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer provided the middle-order aggression, while Jason Holder’s support tightened the innings at crucial moments.
The West Indies finished Group B with four wins from four, moving into the Super 8s with momentum and confidence. Their balanced attack and depth in batting make them a formidable opponent as the tournament progresses.
With Zimbabwe, India, South Africa and the West Indies grouped together in the Super 8s, the next phase promises high-stakes clashes. Zimbabwe’s unbeaten run has injected fresh intrigue into the competition and posed new questions about how established powers will handle an in-form, confident side.
Match timings and the Super 8s schedule are set to unfold over the coming days, with teams shifting focus to recovery and strategy ahead of the next round of fixtures.
