The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from the 38th Match of Group B in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 remains a notable chapter in recent T20 history. Hosted at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 19 February 2026, the contest delivered a competitive total, a measured chase, and a result that confirmed Zimbabwe’s unbeaten group-stage campaign.
Fans searching for the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe match scorecard, batting and bowling details, or the final result find a clear story of Sri Lanka posting 178/7 after electing to bat, only for Zimbabwe to chase 179 with composure and reach 182/4 in 19.3 overs. Zimbabwe won by six wickets with three balls remaining. Both sides had already secured Super Eight qualification, yet the points and ranking implications gave the fixture added edge. This article presents the verified Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, full batting and bowling tables, key performances, turning points, and tournament context drawn solely from match records.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team – Match Context
The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team fixture was the final Group B match for both sides in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe arrived unbeaten, having already beaten Australia earlier in the group. Sri Lanka, playing at home, aimed to finish strongly. The pitch offered some grip for spinners later in the innings, making middle-over control decisive. Both teams progressed to the Super Eights, but the result decided the group ranking.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Date | 19 February 2026 |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – 38th Match, Group B |
| Toss | Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat |
| Sri Lanka Score | 178/7 (20 overs) |
| Zimbabwe Score | 182/4 (19.3 overs) |
| Result | Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets (3 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) |
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 62 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 151.22 | c Tony Munyonga b Graeme Cremer |
| Kusal Perera | 22 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 157.14 | c Graeme Cremer b Blessing Muzarabani |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | 14 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 70.00 | st Tadiwanashe Marumani b Ryan Burl |
| Pavan Rathnayake | 44 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 176.00 | c Graeme Cremer b Brad Evans |
| Kamindu Mendis | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 | c & b Graeme Cremer |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 | c Tashinga Musekiwa b Blessing Muzarabani |
| Dunith Wellalage | 15* | 8 | 3 | 0 | 187.50 | not out |
| Dushan Hemantha | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Ryan Burl b Brad Evans |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 0* | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | not out |
| Extras | 8 (lb 3, w 4, nb 1) | |||||
| Total | 178/7 (20 overs, RR 8.90) |
Did not bat: Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan.
Sri Lanka made a strong start through Nissanka and Perera, who put on 54 inside the powerplay. Once the openers were separated, the middle order struggled to maintain the same intensity against Zimbabwe’s spinners. Rathnayake’s quick 44 and Wellalage’s late cameo lifted the total to 178, but the innings never fully recovered its early momentum.
Zimbabwe Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sikandar Raza (c) | 4 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Wellington Masakadza | 3 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 7.67 |
| Brad Evans | 3 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 11.67 |
| Graeme Cremer | 4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 |
| Ryan Burl | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8.00 |
Graeme Cremer was the standout with 2/27 at an economy of 6.75. Muzarabani and Evans each claimed two wickets, while Burl’s stumping of Mendis proved important. Zimbabwe’s varied attack successfully slowed Sri Lanka after the powerplay.
Zimbabwe Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | 63* | 48 | 8 | 0 | 131.25 | not out |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk) | 34 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 130.77 | c & b Dunith Wellalage |
| Ryan Burl | 23 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 191.67 | c Kusal Perera b Dasun Shanaka |
| Sikandar Raza (c) | 45 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 173.08 | c Dasun Shanaka b Dushan Hemantha |
| Tashinga Musekiwa | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c Dasun Shanaka b Dushan Hemantha |
| Tony Munyonga | 8* | 3 | 0 | 1 | 266.67 | not out |
| Extras | 8 (lb 3, w 5) | |||||
| Total | 182/4 (19.3 overs, RR 9.33) |
Did not bat: Dion Myers, Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.
Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 63 formed the backbone of the chase. Marumani provided a solid start, Burl added quick runs, and Raza’s explosive 45 (with four sixes) took Zimbabwe close. A brief late wobble was overcome by Munyonga’s six and Bennett’s finishing boundary.
Sri Lanka Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.67 |
| Pramod Madushan | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 3.3 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 13.43 |
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | 3 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 8.67 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 4 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 9.00 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 6.75 |
Wellalage and Madushanka kept things tight early, but Theekshana proved expensive. Hemantha took two wickets in the death overs, yet Zimbabwe’s set batters handled the pressure well.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe – Fall Of Wickets
Sri Lanka Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Over | Batsman Out | How Out / Partnership Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54-1 | 4.6 | Kusal Perera | c Graeme Cremer b Blessing Muzarabani |
| 2 | 100-2 | 12.1 | Kusal Mendis | st Tadiwanashe Marumani b Ryan Burl |
| 3 | 108-3 | 13.4 | Pathum Nissanka | c Tony Munyonga b Graeme Cremer |
| 4 | 123-4 | 15.2 | Kamindu Mendis | c & b Graeme Cremer |
| 5 | 142-5 | 17.1 | Dasun Shanaka | c Tashinga Musekiwa b Blessing Muzarabani |
| 6 | 164-6 | 18.5 | Pavan Rathnayake | c Graeme Cremer b Brad Evans |
| 7 | 164-7 | 18.6 | Dushan Hemantha | c Ryan Burl b Brad Evans |
Zimbabwe Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Over | Batsman Out | How Out / Partnership Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 69-1 | 8.3 | Tadiwanashe Marumani | c & b Dunith Wellalage |
| 2 | 98-2 | 11.4 | Ryan Burl | c Kusal Perera b Dasun Shanaka |
| 3 | 167-3 | 18.2 | Sikandar Raza | c Dasun Shanaka b Dushan Hemantha |
| 4 | 169-4 | 18.5 | Tashinga Musekiwa | c Dasun Shanaka b Dushan Hemantha |
Powerplay & Death Overs Stats – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
| Phase | Team | Score / Runs | Wickets | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay (1-6 overs) | Sri Lanka | 61/1 | 1 | 10 fours, 7 dot balls |
| Powerplay (1-6 overs) | Zimbabwe | 55/0 | 0 | Solid start, no wickets lost |
| Death Overs (16-20) | Sri Lanka | Strong late surge | 2 (in last 2 overs) | 6 fours, 2 sixes, 9 dot balls |
| Death Overs (16-19.3) | Zimbabwe | Decisive finish | 2 (in 19th over) | 4 fours, 5 sixes, only 5 dot balls |
- Powerplay: Sri Lanka started aggressively and scored more runs (61/1), but Zimbabwe remained wicketless (55/0) and kept the chase under control.
- Death Overs: Zimbabwe were far more efficient. They hit more sixes (5 vs 2) and played fewer dot balls (5 vs 9), which proved decisive in sealing the chase with three balls remaining.
- Sri Lanka scored heavily in the powerplay and death combined but struggled in the middle overs, where Zimbabwe scored significantly more.
These phase stats form an important part of the full Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard and explain why Zimbabwe successfully chased 179.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Players
| No. | Sri Lanka Players | Role / Notes | Zimbabwe Players | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pathum Nissanka | Opening Batter | Brian Bennett | Opening Batter / All-rounder |
| 2 | Kusal Perera | Opening Batter | Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| 3 | Kusal Mendis (wk) | Wicketkeeper Batter | Ryan Burl | All-rounder |
| 4 | Pavan Rathnayake | Middle-order Batter | Sikandar Raza (c) | Captain / Batting All-rounder |
| 5 | Kamindu Mendis | All-rounder | Dion Myers | Top-order Batter |
| 6 | Dasun Shanaka (c) | Captain / All-rounder | Tony Munyonga | All-rounder |
| 7 | Dunith Wellalage | Bowling All-rounder | Tashinga Musekiwa | Batting All-rounder |
| 8 | Dushan Hemantha | All-rounder | Wellington Masakadza | Spinner |
| 9 | Maheesh Theekshana | Spinner | Brad Evans | All-rounder |
| 10 | Dilshan Madushanka | Fast Bowler | Graeme Cremer | Spinner |
| 11 | Pramod Madushan | Fast Bowler | Blessing Muzarabani | Fast Bowler |
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Highlights
| Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Batter | Brian Bennett (63* off 48) |
| Best Bowler | Graeme Cremer (2/27) |
| Best Partnership | Brian Bennett & Sikandar Raza (69 runs) |
| Key Moment | Raza’s four sixes in the middle overs |
| Turning Point | Zimbabwe’s response after 98/2 |
| Best Bowling Spell | Cremer’s economical four overs |
| Best Batting Performance | Pathum Nissanka 62 & Sikandar Raza 45 |
| Final Result | Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets |
Strong Powerplay by Sri Lanka
Nissanka and Perera’s 54-run opening stand gave the home side early momentum in the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe contest.
Middle-Order Slowdown
After the openers fell, Sri Lanka’s scoring rate dropped against Cremer and Burl. The middle order could not rebuild quickly enough.
Bennett’s Steady Anchoring
Bennett’s 63 not out kept the required rate under control throughout the chase.
Raza’s Match-Changing Knock
Sikandar Raza’s 45 off 26, including four sixes, provided the acceleration that sealed the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team result.
Late Finish
Two wickets in the 19th over left eight needed from the final over. Munyonga’s six and Bennett’s four completed the job with three balls left.
Turning Points in the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match
- Cremer dismissing Nissanka at 108/3 – removed Sri Lanka’s main threat.
- Burl’s stumping of Mendis – further slowed the home side’s progress.
- The 69-run partnership between Bennett and Raza – shifted momentum firmly to Zimbabwe.
- Munyonga’s six in the last over – removed any remaining doubt.
Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Stats
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | Zimbabwe | Opener | 63* (48) |
| Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | Captain / All-rounder | 45 (26) & 0/36 |
| Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | Opener | 62 (41) |
| Pavan Rathnayake | Sri Lanka | Middle order | 44 (25) |
| Graeme Cremer | Zimbabwe | Spinner | 2/27 |
Brian Bennett – Unbeaten Foundation
Bennett’s calm 63 not out was the backbone of Zimbabwe’s successful chase in the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team match.
Sikandar Raza – Player of the Match
Raza’s explosive 45 and overall leadership earned him the Man of the Match award.
Pathum Nissanka – Sri Lanka’s Top Scorer
Nissanka’s 62 gave the hosts their best chance, but the middle order could not build on it.
Graeme Cremer – Key Bowling Performance
Cremer’s 2/27 at excellent economy restricted Sri Lanka at the right time.
Tournament Overview – Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Impact
Zimbabwe finished Group B unbeaten and topped the table after this victory. Both teams advanced to the Super Eights. The result gave Zimbabwe the best possible seeding heading into the next stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Head-to-Head Context – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
In T20Is, Sri Lanka have traditionally held the edge over Zimbabwe, though recent World Cup meetings have been competitive. Exact historical numbers should be checked on official platforms as they continue to update.
| Format | Matches Played | Sri Lanka Won | Zimbabwe Won | Drawn / No Result | Win % (Sri Lanka) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 Draws | 70.00% |
| ODIs | 66 | 51 | 12 | 3 No Result | 80.95%* |
| T20Is | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 66.67% |
Why Zimbabwe Won the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Cricket Team Match
- Effective middle-over bowling that restricted Sri Lanka after a strong start.
- Shared wickets from Cremer, Muzarabani and Evans.
- Bennett’s composed anchoring of the chase.
- Raza’s power-hitting that broke the required rate.
- Calm finishing under late pressure.
Importance of the Result
The win allowed Zimbabwe to top Group B with an unbeaten record and boosted confidence for the Super Eights. Sri Lanka still progressed but finished second. Key players such as Bennett and Raza gained valuable form and momentum.
Conclusion
The full Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard shows Zimbabwe successfully chasing 179 to win by six wickets. Pathum Nissanka (62) and Pavan Rathnayake (44) led Sri Lanka to 178/7, while Brian Bennett (63*) and Sikandar Raza (45) powered the reply. Zimbabwe’s controlled bowling and clinical chase sealed top spot in Group B. Fans searching for the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe scorecard, players, or stats will find this result one of the more notable group-stage stories of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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FAQs
1. Where can I find the complete Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match Scorecard?
Official scorecards are available on Cricbuzz, ESPNcricinfo and the ICC website for the 38th Match, Group B of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
2. Who was the top scorer in the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe match?
Brian Bennett scored 63 not out for Zimbabwe. Pathum Nissanka was Sri Lanka’s highest with 62.
3. Which players took the most wickets?
Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans each took two wickets for Zimbabwe. Dushan Hemantha took two for Sri Lanka.
4. What was the final result of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team match?
Zimbabwe won by six wickets, finishing on 182/4 in 19.3 overs while chasing 179.
5. Where was the Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe match played?
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 19 February 2026.
