Colombo: On Thursday R. Brian Bennett and captain Sikandar Raza led Zimbabwe to a 6-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Premadasa International Cricket Stadium to top the Group B points table.
Chasing a challenging target of 179, Zimbabwe reached the score with the loss of 4 wickets in the last over.
Openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani piled on the runs from the start and put on 69 runs for the first wicket.
Sri Lanka saw the turning point when Marumani was dismissed in the ninth over by Dunith Vellalaghe, who had scored 34 runs off 26 balls that included 5 fours and a six.
Ryan Burl then came in and played quickly to ease the pressure, scoring 23 off 12 balls with 2 fours and a six before being dismissed by captain Dasun Shanaka.
Captain Sikandar Raza kept the scoreboard going with Bennett’s aggressive stroke play at the crease, including back-to-back sixes, reducing the equation to 45 off the final five overs.
The duo combined for 50 to dominate Zimbabwe, with Bennett bringing up his half-century in style.
However, Dushan Hemantha broke the crucial partnership in the 19th over as Raza scored 45 off 26 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes.
Hemantha removed Dashinga Musekiwa for one run in the same over to give Sri Lanka hope.
With eight runs needed off the final over, Tony Munyonga sealed the match with a superb six as he finished unbeaten on 63 off 48 balls, including eight fours.
Munyonga remained unbeaten on 8 off three balls as Zimbabwe cruised to a memorable six-wicket win.
Batting first, Sri Lanka piled on the runs with aggressive strokeplay from openers Kusal Perera and Pathum Nisanga, putting early pressure on Zimbabwe’s bowling attack and forming a 54-run partnership for the opening wicket.
However, Perera, who appeared to be set, scored 22 off 14 balls, including 4 fours, before being dismissed by Blessing Musharbani, ending the opening stand in the fifth over.
Nissanga scored his 19th T20I half-century to take the team’s total past 100 in the 12th over.
Gusal Mendis, who had been batting alongside Nisanga, struggled to rotate the strike and was eventually stumped by Ryan Burl on 14 off 20 balls as Sri Lanka were 100-2 in 12.2 overs.
Zimbabwe scored 62 runs off 41 balls with 8 boundaries before being dismissed by Graeme Creamer and clawing their way back into the contest with the prize wicket of Nissanka.
Creamer dismissed Kamindu Mendis in his next over for 7 runs off 5 balls, including a boundary, as Sri Lanka slumped to 123-4 in 15.2 overs.
The hosts continued to lose wickets as Musharrafani picked up his second wicket, dismissing skipper Dasun Shanaka for 6 off seven balls.
Pawan Ratnayake provided a late impetus with a blistering 44 off 25 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes, but his promising innings was cut short by Brad Evans.
Evans again in the same over to duck out Dushan Hemantha on the first ball to reduce Sri Lanka to 164-7 in 19 overs.
Dunith Vellalake remained unbeaten on 15 off 8 balls with 3 fours while Mahesh Dikshana did not face a single ball.
For the Chevrons, Blessing Musharbani, Brad Evans, and Graeme Creamer took two wickets each, while Ryan Burl took one wicket.