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Zimbabwe edged past Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in a thrilling dead-rubber at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday.
Chasing 179, Zimbabwe finished at 182/4 with just three balls to spare. Brian Bennett led the charge with 63 runs, while captain Sikandar Raza added a crucial 45.
Sri Lanka had earlier posted 178/7 in their 20 overs, anchored by Pathum Nissanka and Pavan Rathnayake. Nissanka played a classy 62 off 41 balls, hitting eight boundaries and forming a rapid 50-run opening stand in 25 balls with Kusal Perera, who contributed 22 with four fours. Sri Lanka were 61/1 after six overs, applying early pressure on Zimbabwe.
The middle overs saw Zimbabwe fight back with timely wickets, but Rathnayake’s aggressive 44 off 25 balls, featuring three fours and two sixes, restored momentum for the hosts. Dunith Wellalage then finished strongly with an unbeaten 15 off 8 balls, including three boundaries, helping Sri Lanka reach a competitive total.
For Zimbabwe, Graeme Cremer and Blessing Muzarabani took two wickets apiece, but Sri Lanka’s partnerships ensured a challenging target. Ultimately, Zimbabwe’s calculated chase, led by Bennett and Raza, sealed the dramatic victory with just a few balls remaining.
