The extremely rated Brian Bennett confirmed his class on the massive stage with an unbeaten 36-ball 48 to enhance the bowlers’ glorious show and energy Zimbabwe to an eight-wicket win over Oman in a T20 World Cup match in Colombo on Monday.
Opting to bowl, Blessing Muzarabani wreaked havoc with the brand new ball, earlier than his pace-bowling colleague Richard Ngarava joined him within the demolition job to skittle out Oman for 103.
The duo of Muzarabani (3/16 in 4 overs) and Ngarava (3/17 in 4 overs) had been probably the most profitable bowlers for Zimbabwe as Oman put up an peculiar show with the bat. It was in peril of being bowled out for a a lot lesser complete after slipping to 27 for 5 within the seventh over.
Pacer Brad Evans additionally chipped in with spectacular figures of three/18 from 3.5 overs in an excellent Zimbabwean bowling efficiency.
Zimbabwe made a flying begin to the chase, courtesy of Tadiwanashe Marumani, who blazed away to 21 off 11 balls earlier than Wasim Ali pulled off a surprising catch to dismiss the opener.
Sufyan Mehmood struck once more in the identical over, dismissing Dion Myers for a duck.
However Bennett and skilled wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor (31 retired damage off 30 balls) placed on 68 runs for the third wicket to finish the duty for Zimbabwe in simply 13.3 overs.
The 22-year-old Bennett, who got here into the World Cup after having fun with the type of his life on house soil by scoring three half-centuries and 100 to clinch Zimbabwe’s place within the showpiece, continued in the identical vein and confirmed why he’s rated so extremely.
Bennett’s type will maintain the important thing for Zimbabwe going ahead within the match.
Taylor was not far behind as he, too, performed some effective photographs en path to a straightforward victory for a workforce that has a degree to show, having missed the final version of the match.
Earlier, Vinayak Shukla (28 off 21 balls), Mehmood (25 off 39) and Nadeem Khan (20 off 18) had been the numerous contributors with the bat for Oman.
Opting to subject after the coin landed in favour of Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, Muzarabani struck thrice and left-arm seamer Ngarava as soon as to depart Oman precariously positioned at 17 for 4 within the fourth over.
Raza then introduced himself into the assault and tasted success when he beat Wasim in flight to disturb his stumps.
After none of their high 5 batters managed to achieve double digits, Mehmood and wicketkeeper Shukla tried to stabilise the Oman innings with a partnership of 42 runs for the sixth wicket.
Nevertheless, simply when their affiliation had begun to boost hopes of lending their complete a semblance of respectability, Oman misplaced its sixth wicket within the type of Shukla.
He was despatched again by Ngarava after an excellent catch by wicketkeeper Taylor off a back-of-a-length supply that cramped the batter for house.
This was quickly adopted by the wicket of Jiten Ramanandi as Ngarava struck for the third time within the sport and Oman slipped to 71 for seven within the fifteenth over.
Evans then broke the resistance of Mehmood because the batter holed out at deep square-leg after a half-hearted pull shot.
Printed on Feb 09, 2026