Colombo, February 19 Brian Bennett’s composed fifty and Sikandar Raza’s raw power propelled Zimbabwe to an easy six-wicket victory over fancied Sri Lanka as the Africans entered the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup with a perfect record, here on Thursday.
Chasing 179 on a rather slow pitch, Zimbabwe needed both pragmatism and power, and Bennett (63 not out, 48 balls) and Raza (45, 26b) provided them.
Zimbabwe reached the target in 19.3 overs.
Both teams had already qualified for the Super Eights from Group B, and the African team can be proud of their performance in the group stage, as they had also defeated Australia in an earlier match.
The African team started well, reaching 55 for no loss in the Power Play segment, thanks to openers Bennett and Tadi Marumani (34, 26b).
In all, they added 69 runs for the first wicket in 8.3 overs before Marumani was caught by Dunith Wellalage, giving the left-arm spinner a return catch.
Ryan Burl ensured that Zimbabwe did not lose momentum, making a quick 12-23, with a highlight being a massive six off Wellalage over long-on.
Burl was dismissed by a slower bouncer from pacer Dasun Shanaka, but Raza changed the complexion of the match.
Bennett reached his fifty in 41 balls, but Zimbabwe still needed some power in their chase.
Raza smashed two sixes in a row off pacer Dilshan Madushanka, followed by a four in the 15th over to give his side some momentum.
The captain, who suffered cramps in the later part of his innings, then hit a six and a four off spinner Maheesh Theekshana in the 16th over, bringing Zimbabwe's required run rate down to 6.5.
Raza was dismissed by Dushan Hemantha in the 19th over, and Tashinga Musekiwa was out two balls later, leaving the visitors to score 8 off the last over.
However, a huge pulled six by Tony Munyonga off Theekshana erased all worries in the Zimbabwe camp.
Earlier, Sri Lankan batsmen struggled against Zimbabwean spinners in the middle overs on a slow pitch, but reached a par score of 178 for seven.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to a reasonable start with openers Kusal Perera (22) and Pathum Nissanka (62) adding 54 runs in 4.5 overs.
Left-handed Perera looked uncomfortable but managed a couple of boundaries off pacer Blessing Muzarabani.
But he was soon caught by Graeme Cremer at short fine leg after a Muzarabani bouncer.
Muzarabani was also impressive, tucking the ball into the pitch to take the pace off, keeping the batsmen waiting.
The Lankans still ended the Power Play at 61 for 1, but found it difficult to score in the subsequent phase.
Zimbabwe spinners – Raza, Cremer, Burl, and Wellington Masakadza – did not give the home batters any room, as the next four overs produced only 21 runs.
They also lost Kusal Mendis (14, 20b) during this time.
In between, Nissanka, fresh from his unbeaten 100 against Australia in the previous match, completed his fifty in 34 balls.
The right-handed Nissanka judged the pace of the pitch perfectly, and focused on taking quick singles and doubles, only freeing his arms at the opportune moment.
But eventually, Nissanka also fell victim to the slow pitch, a reverse sweep off Cremer ending in the hands of Tony Munynoga.
Talented Pavan Rathnayake (44, 25b) creamed Brad Evans for 4, 6, and 4 in the 19th over, pushing SL past the 150-run mark before getting out in the same over. The last two overs produced 30 runs.
