'Sikandar captain bhi hai aur team bhi' - Fans react as Zimbabwe stay unbeaten with dominant 6-wicket win over Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup 2026

What just happened at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 19 in Colombo—another upset or a simple reality check? The emphatic win over Sri Lanka, the co-host of the 2026 T20 World Cup, proved how a team can flip things if they find the much-required mojo. First Australia, and now Sri Lanka: two giants fell on the mat in front of Zimbabwe, the team that was considered an underdog ahead of the tournament. 

Chasing a target of 179, Zimbabwe claimed the match today by 6 wickets, with three more balls to spare. Sikandar Raza, captain of the team, was named as the best player of the match for his brilliant 45 off 26. 

The foundation was there when Raza walked in the middle. A lot of equations were running in his head before connecting a few deliveries. Once he started to find the sweet spot of his blade, there was no turning back for him, no turning back for his team either. 

Read More: Watch: Dasun Shanaka's jaw-dropping catch dismisses Tashinga Musekiwa in SL vs ZIM T20 WC 2026

Sri Lanka registered 178/7, batting first in Colombo. For both of the teams, it was their last game before concluding the group stage. Initially, the match was shaped like a dead rubber, as both of the sides had already confirmed their spots in the next phase of the tournament. 

Continuing the fine form, Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka, who smashed a ton against Australia, scored a half-century against Zimbabwe. Pavan Rathnayake's well-paced 44 was also a promising instance for the island nation ahead of the round of 8. For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, and Graeme Cremer claimed a brace each. 

Zimbabwe openers laid the foundation to pull off another upset 

For the opening stand, Brian Bennett (63*) and Tadiwanashe Marumani, the openers of Zimbabwe, put 69 on the board and laid the foundation for a successful run chase. While Marumani was dismissed for 34, Bennett remained unbeaten to hit the winning runs. Raza's 45-run knock, powered by a 173.08 strike rate, provided Zimbabwe the pace they needed to chase down the target within the stipulated overs. Ryan Burl's 23 off 12 also bolstered the run rate. 

Cricket fans across the social media platforms were amazed by the latest version of the Zimbabwe cricket team. The social media platform 'X' is flooding with cricket fans' reactions, marking another great victory in the ongoing title race.