In a dramatic opening to their T20 World Cup campaign, Zimbabwe pulled off a spectacular upset, defeating 2014 champions Sri Lanka by four wickets in a rain-affected thriller in Florida.
The match was turned on its head by a sensational spell of bowling from Zimbabwe's pace attack, skittling a shell-shocked Sri Lankan side for a paltry 77 runs in 19.1 overs. The collapse was one for the history books, marking Sri Lanka's lowest-ever total in a Men's T20 World Cup match.
Bowling Heroes Demolish Sri Lanka
The rot started early for Sri Lanka, with their top order crumbling under immense pressure. The heroes for Zimbabwe were undoubtedly their bowlers. Blessing Muzarabani set the tone with a fiery opening spell, while Richard Ngarava and the wily Sikandar Raza applied a stranglehold in the middle, sharing five wickets between them.
Sri Lanka's innings was a story of continuous failure; no batsman managed to cross the 20-run mark, with Angelo Mathews' 16 runs being the highest individual score in a dismal team performance.
Rain, Nerves, and a Tense Chase
In reply, Zimbabwe's chase was twice interrupted by Florida's unpredictable weather, adding to the nail-biting tension. A revised DLS target of 82 runs from 16 overs put the pressure squarely on the African side.
Despite early wickets, a blistering cameo from 23-year-old Brian Bennett, who smashed 14 runs from just seven balls, provided the crucial momentum shift. The experienced duo of Raza and Clive Madande then held their nerve, steering their team to a historic victory with 14 balls to spare.
A Statement of Intent from Zimbabwe
This victory is more than just two points for Zimbabwe; it's a massive statement of intent in a fiercely competitive Group B. For Sri Lanka, this defeat is a catastrophic start to their World Cup journey, raising serious questions about their batting line-up's fragility under pressure.
The result throws the group wide open and sets up an enthralling contest as the tournament progresses. All eyes will now be on how both teams respond to this electrifying start.
