Match Overview
The highly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash took place on February 19, 2026, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Fans checking the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team match scorecard will see a thrilling contest where Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets with 3 balls to spare. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, looking to set a formidable target on a good batting surface. However, it was Zimbabwe who rose to the occasion, chasing down the target brilliantly in a high-scoring cricket match.
Sri Lanka posted a competitive 178/7 in their allotted 20 overs, driven by a solid 62 from Pathum Nissanka and a quickfire 44 from Pavan Rathnayake. In response, Zimbabwe’s batting lineup showed great composure, reaching 182/4 in 19.3 overs. Brian Bennett anchored the chase with a magnificent unbeaten 63, while Sikandar Raza played a blistering cameo of 45 runs off just 26 balls. Raza’s all-round impact and crucial runs earned him the Player of the Match award. This exciting match not only boosted Zimbabwe’s Super Eight hopes but also provided fans with a spectacular display of batting, bowling, and fielding in the series.
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Munyonga b Cremer | 62 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 151.21 |
| Kusal Perera | c Cremer b Muzarabani | 22 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 157.14 |
| Kusal Mendis | st Marumani b Burl | 14 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 70.00 |
| Pavan Rathnayake | c Cremer b Evans | 44 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 176.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c & b Cremer | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | c Musekiwa b Muzarabani | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Dunith Wellalage | not out | 15 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 187.50 |
| Dushan Hemantha | c Burl b Evans | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Extras | 8 | |||||
| Total | 178/7 | 20.0 |
Sri Lanka Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 3.0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.66 |
| Pramod Madushan | 2.0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 3.3 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 13.42 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 3.0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 8.66 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 4.0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 9.00 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4.0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
Zimbabwe Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | not out | 63 | 48 | 8 | 0 | 131.25 |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani | c & b Wellalage | 34 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 130.76 |
| Ryan Burl | c Perera b Shanaka | 23 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 191.66 |
| Sikandar Raza (c) | c Shanaka b Hemantha | 45 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 173.07 |
| Tashinga Musekiwa | c Shanaka b Hemantha | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Tony Munyonga | not out | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 266.66 |
| Extras | 8 | |||||
| Total | 182/4 | 19.3 |
Zimbabwe Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sikandar Raza | 4.0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4.0 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Wellington Masakadza | 3.0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 7.66 |
| Brad Evans | 3.0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 11.66 |
| Graeme Cremer | 4.0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 |
| Ryan Burl | 2.0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8.00 |
Key Highlights of the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
In this thrilling T20 World Cup encounter, the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team match scorecard reflects a game of two distinct halves, showcasing excellent batting and strategic bowling. Sri Lanka’s innings was built on a strong foundation by Pathum Nissanka, who played a superb knock of 62 runs off 41 balls, including 8 boundaries. His 54-run opening stand with Kusal Perera gave Sri Lanka the perfect start in the powerplay.
However, the middle order collapsed slightly against the spin of Graeme Cremer, who picked up two crucial wickets for just 27 runs, breaking a very threatening partnership. Pavan Rathnayake’s late cameo of 44 runs off 25 balls helped Sri Lanka cross the 170-run mark, making it a highly challenging total on the Colombo track. The bowling figures for Zimbabwe show a disciplined effort, with Brad Evans and Blessing Muzarabani sharing the wickets at crucial moments.
Chasing 179, Zimbabwe’s top order was exceptionally solid. Brian Bennett was the standout performer with the bat, remaining not out on 63 runs off 48 balls. He anchored the innings brilliantly, rotating the strike and finding the boundary whenever required to keep the run rate in check. The turning point of the match came in the 18th over when Zimbabwe needed just 12 runs from 12 balls.
Sikandar Raza, who had already played a match-winning innings of 45 runs off 26 balls, was dismissed in the penultimate over. This brought the game back to life, but Bennett kept his cool under immense pressure. He was ably supported by Tony Munyonga, who smashed a quick 8 runs off just 3 balls to seal the victory in style.
From a bowling perspective, Zimbabwe’s attack was exceptionally disciplined throughout the series of overs. Blessing Muzarabani struck early to remove Kusal Perera, while Brad Evans provided the crucial breakthroughs in the death overs, finishing with figures of 2/35. Dasun Shanaka’s spectacular catch to dismiss Tashinga Musekiwa was the absolute highlight for Sri Lanka in the field, but it wasn’t enough to stop the relentless Zimbabwean batting lineup. This victory was a massive confidence booster for Zimbabwe as they marched into the Super Eight stage of the tournament completely unbeaten.
The pitch at the R. Premadasa Stadium offered good value for batters, with the ball coming nicely onto the bat. However, as the match progressed under lights, the surface slowed down slightly, making it challenging for the bowlers to extract extra bounce. The dew factor also played a minor role in the second innings, aiding Zimbabwe’s chase. Overall, the batting conditions were excellent, resulting in a high-scoring game that kept the fans on the edge of their seats till the very last ball.
Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches | Sri Lanka Wins | Zimbabwe Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
FAQs on the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Q: Who won the match? A: Zimbabwe won the match against Sri Lanka by 6 wickets with 3 balls remaining in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash.
Q: Who was Player of the Match? A: Zimbabwe’s star all-rounder Sikandar Raza was named the Player of the Match for his crucial and blistering cameo of 45 runs off just 26 balls.
Q: What was the match result? A: Sri Lanka scored 178/7 in 20 overs, and Zimbabwe successfully chased the target by finishing at 182/4 in 19.3 overs to win the game by 6 wickets.
Q: When and where was the match played? A: The cricket match was played on February 19, 2026, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, under lights in a day-night fixture.
Q: What is the current series score? A: This was a World Cup group match, so Zimbabwe earned 2 points to stay unbeaten in Group B. In their last bilateral T20I series in 2025, Sri Lanka won the 3-match series 2-1.
Conclusion
The Zimbabwe National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team match scorecard highlights a phenomenal chase led by the experienced Brian Bennett and the dynamic Sikandar Raza. Zimbabwe’s clinical bowling and composed batting under immense pressure secured them a memorable 6-wicket victory at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka will need to regroup quickly and address their middle-order batting fragility as they look to bounce back in the tournament. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe carries massive momentum into their next Super Eight fixture, hoping to continue their fairytale run in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Fans can expect more thrilling cricket matches as the tournament progresses, and this scorecard will be remembered as a classic World Cup encounter.