Zimbabwe Stun Sri Lanka to Top Group B at T20 World Cup

Published: 22 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online

In a dramatic upset at the ongoing 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe shocked cricket fans worldwide by defeating Sri Lanka to finish top of Group B, securing a place in the tournament’s next stage and rewriting expectations for the team’s campaign.

In a match that thrilled supporters from Harare to Colombo, Zimbabwe’s batters posted a competitive total thanks to a standout performance from opener Tadiwanashe Marumani, who anchored the innings with a composed half‑century. Sri Lanka struggled to maintain momentum, with Zimbabwe’s bowlers exploiting helpful conditions to restrict the Asian side’s scoring.

Pace spearhead Brad Evans spearheaded the bowling effort, finishing with key wickets that turned the game in Zimbabwe’s favour. His strikes at crucial junctures derailed Sri Lanka’s chase and kept them under pressure throughout. As Sri Lanka faltered, Zimbabwe’s fielding was electric, converting half‑chances and putting constant pressure on their rivals.

Chasing the target, Sri Lanka started well but lost early wickets, with captain Wanindu Hasaranga unable to make the impact needed to shift the momentum. As the required run‑rate climbed, Sri Lanka’s innings lost impetus and Zimbabwe’s disciplined bowling attack closed out the win with defensive brilliance.

The victory was greeted with jubilant celebrations at the stadium and across social media, where Zimbabwe fans hailed an unforgettable day for their side. Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor lauded the performance, saying, “This is the definition of belief and effort. The boys showed guts and skill to rewrite the script.”

Finishing top of Group B is a landmark achievement for Zimbabwe, who have often been seen as underdogs on the global cricket stage. Their performance establishes them as genuine contenders as the tournament progresses to the Super 8s, where they will take on one of the other group leaders.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, must now regroup as they face a challenging route through the qualifiers after a rare defeat that has exposed vulnerabilities in their middle order and bowling depth. Analysts say this match underlines the increasing competitiveness of Associate and lower‑ranked teams in world cricket.

The English Chronicle will continue to follow Zimbabwe’s progress as the T20 World Cup unfolds, bringing updates on fixtures, results and standout performances from the global tournament.

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