In a commanding display of pace bowling and composed batting, Zimbabwe kicked off their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with an emphatic 8-wicket win over Oman in Match 8 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on February 9, 2026. The Chevrons restricted Oman to a meager 103 before chasing down the target with more than six overs to spare, signaling their intent in the tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Oman’s Batting Collapse: Pacers Steal the Show
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that paid dividends immediately as their seamers exploited the lively pitch. Oman, reeling from early blows, slumped to 27/5 in the powerplay, thanks to a relentless attack led by Blessing Muzarabani, who was later named Player of the Match for his scintillating spell of 3/16.
Brad Evans (3/18) and Richard Ngarava (3/17) provided able support, dismantling Oman’s top order with pace and bounce. Vinayak Shukla top-scored with 28 off 21 balls, while Sufyan Mehmood (25) and Nadeem Khan (20) offered brief resistance, but the innings folded in 19.5 overs for just 103. At one point, Oman were in danger of recording their lowest T20 World Cup total, but a lower-order fightback prevented further embarrassment.
Key moments included Muzarabani’s double strike in the opening overs, removing openers for ducks, and Evans’ crucial wickets that broke any budding partnerships.
Zimbabwe’s Chase: Bennett Shines with the Bat
Chasing 104, Zimbabwe faced an early hiccup when opener Tadiwanashe Marumani (21 off 12 balls, including 5 fours) and Dion Myers (0) fell to Sufyan Mehmood (2/12) in the third over, leaving them at 30/2. However, young sensation Brian Bennett anchored the innings with an unbeaten 48 off 36 balls, featuring 7 boundaries, showcasing maturity beyond his years.
Partnering with experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor (31 off 30 balls), Bennett added an unbroken 76-run stand for the third wicket, guiding Zimbabwe to 106/2 in just 13.3 overs. The chase was clinical, with Bennett’s aggressive strokeplay and Taylor’s steady hand ensuring no further alarms. Captain Sikandar Raza even got to hit the winning runs, sealing the deal emphatically.
Scorecard Summary
Oman Innings (103/10 in 19.5 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinayak Shukla | 28 | 21 | – | – |
| Sufyan Mehmood | 25 | – | – | – |
| Nadeem Khan | 20 | – | – | – |
Bowling Highlights (Zimbabwe):
- Blessing Muzarabani: 3/16
- Brad Evans: 3/18
- Richard Ngarava: 3/17
Zimbabwe Innings (106/2 in 13.3 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett (not out) | 48 | 36 | 7 | 0 |
| Brendan Taylor (not out) | 31 | 30 | 3 | – |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani | 21 | 12 | 5 | – |
| Dion Myers | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
Fall of Wickets: 30/1 (Marumani, 3.1 ov), 30/2 (Myers, 3.3 ov)
Bowling (Oman): Sufyan Mehmood 2/12
Player of the Match: Blessing Muzarabani
Muzarabani’s fiery spell set the tone for Zimbabwe’s dominance, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match award. His ability to extract bounce and movement troubled Oman’s batters throughout.
Looking Ahead
This win gives Zimbabwe two crucial points in Group B, boosting their net run rate significantly. Oman, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly after this setback, especially following their warm-up victory over the same opponents just days earlier. Zimbabwe’s next challenge will test their consistency, while Oman faces an uphill battle in the group stages.
This polished performance from Zimbabwe not only avenged their warm-up loss but also highlighted their potential as dark horses in the T20 World Cup 2026.
